By LUAYNE WEISGERBER
High school juniors from Alliance were participants in The American Legion County Government Day on Monday. The program is established to provide high school students with the opportunity to learn about how their local government works.
The day began in the District Courtroom with the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome by Alliance Post 7 Commander Steve Stanec and a brief history of the program by Unit 7 Auxiliary President Luayne Weisgerber.
Judge Travis O’Gorman and District Court Clerk Kevin Horn addressed the students about the cases undertaken in the District Court. The County Commissioners each gave a brief description of their responsibilities.
Students were able to visit the Jail, County Clerk, County Commissioners, County Court, Veterans Service Office and County Treasurer.
The American Legion Auxiliaries Unit 7 of Alliance and Unit 9 of Hemingford provided lunch at Knight Museum and Sandhills Center.
Following lunch, the students traveled to the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance for a mock funeral and a tour of the facility. The American Legion Post 7 provided the Honor Guard.
County Government Day is incorporated as a joint program of The American Legion and Auxiliary. It began in 1947 at the urging of Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert G. Simmons, who felt that good government and good citizenship had to start at home.
