For more than 50 years, the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary has chosen delegates who comprise a diverse group of young women with a common desire to explore government and citizenship to attend a yearly conference.

Four Starr’s Mill students attended Georgia Girl’s State recently at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. The sponsoring American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary Units are Post 105 from Fayetteville and Post 50 from Peachtree City.

Girl’s State began as one and two day sessions in the late 1930s. It was expanded to a week-long government education program and, since 1948, has been a regular part of the Auxiliary’s Americanism curriculum. Only rising high school seniors who are interested in government and current events and possess moral character, strong leadership abilities, and above average scholastic standings are invited to participate.

Delegates attend sessions that indoctrinate them in the principles and procedures of city, county and state government. With this knowledge, they organize and operate their own city, county and state governments to form a mythical 51st state.

City officials, followed by county officials, and later state officials are elected and operate as if they are a governing unit.