The American Legion Department of Ohio: Providing Civic Engagement Opportunities for Ohio Students
Published: 29 October 2025
By Paul LaRue, Co-Chair, America 250-Ohio K-12 Education Committee
via the America 250 Ohio website
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Buckeye Boys and Girls State are among the best leadership programs in the nation offered to high school students. The author had the privilege to attend Buckeye Boys State as a delegate; and was asked back to serve as a counselor in 1979.
Several years ago, my brothers and I were cleaning out the old farmhouse where we grew up. I found a certificate from the 1975-76 Americanism and Government Test from Fairfield Union High School. It brought back memories of how positively my life was impacted by the Oscar McVeigh Post #20 American Legion, Bremen, Ohio. The American Legion is a veterans organization that was chartered by Congress in 1919 following World War I.
The American Legion Department of Ohio offers several civic engagement programs for Ohio youth. These programs include American Legion Baseball, Buckeye Boys and Girls State, and the Americanism and Government Test. I suppose I am a little biased, having been fortunate to participate in several of these programs.
Every fall approximately 65,000 Ohio students from 500 high schools participate in the American Legion Americanism and Government Test. This test has been offered by the American Legion Department of Ohio since 1963. High school students in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades are eligible to take the test. The test is composed of fifty questions. The questions are a combination of true/false, multiple choice, and an essay. The primary topic areas include: the United States flag, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and federal, state, county, city, township, and school governments. The test is a great measure of a student’s general civics knowledge.
The Department of Ohio American Legion was offering the Americanism and Government Test since 1963; including the American Bicentennial.
Students are recognized by top scores at their school and within their grade. Some schools recognize these students as part of their Veterans Day assemblies. The top 84 district winners are submitted to the state. The top six scores of 10th, 11th and 12th grades statewide are recognized. Ohio’s eighteen state winners will receive a free trip to Gettysburg and Washington D.C. To learn more about the Americanism and Government Test visit Americanism: The American Legion Department of Ohio, Inc.
As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the American Legion Department of Ohio’s Americanism and Government Test provides students with a way to demonstrate their understanding of United States history and government. The American Legion’s programs continue to inspire and develop informed citizens and future leaders.
Read the entire article on the American Legion Department of Ohio website here:
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