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Stewart resident attends Boys Nation
0814 Jacob Deem
Cadet 1st Sgt. Jacob M. Deem, a Fort Stewart resident, shakes hands with U.S. Army Deputy Commanding General Maj. General Jeffrey S. Buchanan during the American Legion Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C., on July 19-26. - photo by Photo provided.

Cadet 1st Sgt. Jacob M. Deem, a Fort Stewart resident, participated in the American Legion Georgia Boys State program in June and the Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C., on July 19-26. He was one of only two peer-elected state senators who represented Georgia at Boys Nation.
The Boys State program, founded by the American Legion in 1935, is a week-long leadership action course in state and local government open to rising male seniors who qualify for the opportunity. Participants are immersed in the operation of local, county and state government to develop a working knowledge of the structure of government. The Boys Nation program, which first started in 1946 as Boys Forum of National Government, educates young men on the structure and function of federal government. Participants also meet with elected officials from their home states on Capitol Hill.
Representatives caucus at the start of the session and then organize into committees to conduct hearings on bills submitted by delegates. Deem’s bill was created in response to tragedies such as the Boston Marathon bombings and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He proposed a presidential inspection of all airports receiving international flights, and his idea is to address the reliability and efficiency of the inspection department and examine how well it works in conjunction with other divisions.
Deem met high-ranking military personnel, including U.S. Army Deputy Commanding General Maj. General Jeffrey S. Buchanan, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. The 98 Boys Nation senators also met with President Barack Obama, posing for a photo with him at the White House.
Deem is a boarding cadet at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and serves as Echo Company first sergeant. His duties include supervising his company formations, reporting flag-detail assignments and ensuring that all members of his company adhere to proper uniform requirements. He recently received the Jerry Blackstock Award for exhibiting outstanding leadership qualities, the Commandant’s General Excellence Medal and the JROTC Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. He also received a gold star for his placement Riverside’s academic high honor roll. He’s the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Richardson of Fort Stewart and Mr. Matthew Deem of Columbus.

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