ARLINGTON Arlington American Legion Post 76 served up plates of corned beef, cabbage and other Irish favorites to Legion members and their guests March 17, not only to celebrate St. Patricks Day, but also to to send seven area high school students off to Boys State this year.
Jim Barron, service officer of Post 76, estimated that it costs approximately $400 per student to send seven students to each years week-long Boys State program, in which high school juniors and seniors elect mock officials, from their own numbers, to simulated city, county and state legislatures.
Legion members and their guests also attended the 89th birthday dinner for Post 76, March 22, to raise funds for the Arlington, Darrington and Lakewood high school students they plan to send to Boys State in Spokane.
We have new veterans, coming into the area with health and financial problems, which is one reason we hold these benefit dinners, Barron said. We also use them to sponsor scholarships and other programs for area students.