Hello everyone, my name is Sophie LaForest. My time here at American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State has been amazing.  I’ve grown up in government; my mom has worked in New York State government for almost twenty-five years. Right now, she is the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets. At ALA Empire Girls State, my county executive appointed me the Commissioner of Agriculture.

ALA Empire Girls State (EGS) has been super interesting to me because I have seen this whole process in real life. I have shadowed my assemblywoman, Pat Fahey, and sat in and helped vote on bills. Soon, we’ll be voting on our own ALA EGS bills. I’ve written many letters to congressmen and women, but now I know how to properly draft a bill! This opportunity has given me deeper understanding and appreciation of the real-world experiences I’ve had. I campaigned for Governor Cuomo starting in third grade, and since have been involved in as many local elections as I’ve known about. But, never have I campaigned myself. I ran for Governor of EGS Tuesday night. All the while thinking of all of the amazing women that came from all over New York State and thrive in government.

While my mom always said it’s a popularity contest, the girls here don’t treat campaigning, and elections as such. I’ve learned that the citizens of ALA EGS are focused on the speeches and how each candidate carries herself. Many girls made posters or handed out candy or even met with different floors, but the biggest thing were the speeches. They offered the most insight into the women running for office. Campaigning in the real world is harder because we need to inform people of the election before we can start talking candidates.

Kirsten Gillibrand spoke at my sister’s graduation and inspired me to really push myself.  As a woman, I have a duty to push past societal expectations and to empower more generations.  ALA Empire Girls State has offered me that exact opportunity. The opportunity to take risks with little consequence of failing.  The environment here is incredibly supportive and the brilliance of all these girls is astounding. I would like to close with a thank you to my mom, Pat Fahey, Kirsten Gillibrand and Hillary Rodham Clinton for inspiring me to be politically active and giving me my voice. Thank you to everyone at ALA EGS for allowing me to TRY. Without the girls and staff here, I really could not have done this!

Check out the American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State Gazette Volume 3, Issue 2!

Hear Ye, Year Ye!

Each year the ALA Empire Girls State Citizens submit articles to the ALA Empire Girls State Gazette. The Gazette is then edited by and formatted to include some fun by the ALA Empire Girls State Secretary Wendy Privitera and published throughout the week!
Check out today’s edition!

ALA Empire Girls State Gazette Volume 3 Issue 1

7/1/2018
Today’s blog comes from the Rankin Senior Counselor Katie Dorminey. Katie is a 26 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and is currently a Lieutenant in the United States Army. Today’s blog provides insight into what the American Flag means to her and the importance of respecting and honoring the flag. Throughout the week at the American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State program participants will participate in a variety of activities and ceremonies that promote Americanism and respect for the American Flag.

Sometimes, the American Flag comes off of the coffins of  military service members, police, firefighters, and other civil servants who paid an ultimate price in order to protect American people. During those sobering occasions, the flag is draped over the coffin of the lost, and is carried into the funeral ceremony on the shoulders of the Fallen’s Brothers and Sisters in Arms- – other Public Servants . Next, another group of the service member’s brothers and sisters lift the Flag off of the coffin, and then with great deliberation and reverence, fold this flag neatly into a triangle. One of the members carefully takes the flag and, after closely holding it to their heart, hands the flag to the Family of the Fallen.

If you cannot show reverence to  “just a flag”, then perhaps you can express some gratitude to the little boy who lost his mother when she was caught in an accident while fighting in Iraq. Or perhaps to the wife of the firefighter who had gone bravely into a falling building to ensure someone else’s safety and did not come back out. If you cannot feel gratitude when you see the stars and stripes, perhaps you can feel gratitude to the thousands and thousands of young men who suffered through long, arduous tours in Europe and central Asia, solely because their moral calling to protect the American People was stronger than their fear of what lay ahead.

I say these things not to spread guilt or shame. It took me a long time to fully understand what I was really looking at when I was looking at the American Flag, and that understanding continues to deepen and shift as I grow up. When I look at the Flag now, or have the opportunity to sing the Star Spangled Banner or say The Pledge of Allegiance, I take it very seriously. And I expect those around me to take this seriously. If you can’t honor a Red, White, and Blue banner, I hope that you can at least pay respect to your neighbors who have placed your well being in higher priority than their own.

Phew! What a fast 36 hours we have had! The girls arrived, settled in, found their cheering voices and have had a lot of fun! To get a glimpse of the fun and see what we have been up to, I present to you our First  ALA Empire Girls State Gazette !

Volume 2 issue 1 2017

Did anyone pick up a gray and white chevron pillowcase with clothes and a gray fluffy blanket inside?  Contact us at:  empiregirlsstate@gmail.com.  We believed someone picked it up by accident!

Great story covering American Legion Auxiliary Girls State!

The Batavia Daily News article