The American Legion District 18 Boys State Chairman, Jim Cooper of Covina, states Legion Posts throughout the San Gabriel Valley are beginning the search for delegates to the 73rd session of California Boys State to be held March 19th to 26th at Sacramento State University.  Outstanding junior boys are selected to attend the one-week session to learn about government from the local to the state level.  When the American Legion Boys State program was started some 75 years ago, it was seen as a step in the right direction, providing young men the opportunity to learn how government actually operates.  Today the program is alive, well and flourishing, and has graduated more than 1.5 million young men.  It has been a catalyst for many in politics and government service today, and continues to be a source of great pride for The American Legion. All the boys selected from the many high schools in the San Gabriel Valley and sponsored by the various American Legion Posts throughout the area will be honored at a indoctrination and dinner at West Covina Post 790 in West Covina, at which time they will have an opportunity to learn what to expect from Boys State as well as meeting the other local students that will be attending.  On hand to welcome the new candidates will be District Chairman Jim Cooper, along with the Post Chairman, some of whom attended Boys State in their respective States when they were in high school.