In a recent general membership meeting of Anoka's American Legion Edward B. Cutter Post 102, we received a special treat when Simeon Toronto, a 17-year-old high school senior from Andover, came to speak to us.
Our Anoka post sponsored Simeon as our representative to Boys State held this past June on the campus if Southwest State University in Marshall.
At the week-long event, where all participants are sponsored by American Legion posts, they learn about government - local, state and federal. At the end they hold a mock election for governor and senator, as well as for other officers. Simeon was elected governor at Boys State for Minnesota, and was therefore entitled to compete in the election for president of Boys Nation, held in Washington, D.C. this past August.
The Andover High School senior will tell you that he was neither the smartest nor the most eloquent when competing for both Boys State and Boys Nation.
But he speaks with qualities like civility, respect, being a good listener, disagreeing without being disagreeable - virtues which he successfully demonstrates when interacting with others.
Beyond any question, he comes from a superb family where discipline is practiced, love abounds and positive reinforcement is freely given.
He has demonstrated that he is charismatic, self-confident and displays a kind of wisdom far beyond his 17 years.
He loves The American Legion and pays the Legionnaires great respect for their sacrifices on behalf of our country when they were young, and for their continued service to the aging veterans and to the communities in which they live.
We at Post 102 are very proud of him, and were pleased that he came to speak to us at our meeting.
Afterwards he shook hands with all of us and made an effort to get to know something about each of us. We invited him to dine with us after the meeting and spent a pleasant hour socializing with him.
Simeon Toronto is only the second young man from Minnesota to be elected president of Boys Nation in it's 67 year history. This is an honor which may not come again for a while. We do not know what the future holds for Simeon, but for those of us over 60 and who aren't likely to be around for too many more decades, what a bright future this country would have with only a few thousand Simeon Torontos' to take our place.
