Two Catholic high school students received American Legion Certificates of Appreciation for their completion of the Virginia Boys State program, which was held June 18-24 at Radford University in Roanoke. Making the presentations on July 26, 2023, to Samuel J. Averill and Nicholas Lemma were Ron Basso, commander of SSgt Robert C. Melberg, U.S. Army, American Legion Post 110 of VA Beach and Wendell Parker, Post 110's Boys State coordinator. The Boys State program is one of the nation's most respected and selective high school education programs for the study of government and civics, in which participants learn by engaging in the functions of local, county and state governments.

In the photo, left to right, are Ron Basso, Samuel J. Averill, Wendell Parker and Nicholas Lemma. (Photography by Bert Wendell Jr.)