2017 Boys Nation - Day 5
Day 5 for The American Legion Boys Nation brought the election of president Darius Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., and vice-president Jayson Blackburn of Shelbyville, Tenn. Photos by Lucas Carter and Clay Lomneth / The American Legion
![Nathaniel Pekas of Sioux Falls, S.D., plays the bugle as the flag is raised on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0001_20170725_flag_raising_8270.jpg?itok=-5kbwCE8)
Nathaniel Pekas of Sioux Falls, S.D., plays the bugle as the flag is raised on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion
![David Azerrad, fellow at The Heritage Foundation, speaks to The American Legion Boys Nation senators on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0002_20170725_azerrad_7794.jpg?itok=5WSuBF0R)
David Azerrad, fellow at The Heritage Foundation, speaks to The American Legion Boys Nation senators on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Florida Federalist Austin Barclay speaks during the 2017 Boys Nation delegates hold debates for the office of president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0004_20170725_debate_8385.jpg?itok=6NxkC6Tk)
Florida Federalist Austin Barclay speaks during the 2017 Boys Nation delegates hold debates for the office of president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
![Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas speaks during the 2017 Boys Nation delegates hold debates for the office of president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0005_20170725_debate_8370.jpg?itok=tod1ZwwX)
Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas speaks during the 2017 Boys Nation delegates hold debates for the office of president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter.
![Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas speaks during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0003_20170725_pres_election_5011.jpg?itok=tUdLfRJd)
Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas speaks during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas places one of the first votes of the evening the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0006_20170725_pres_election_5088.jpg?itok=GxO5Ek_6)
Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas places one of the first votes of the evening the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas waits anxiously during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0007_20170725_pres_election_5152.jpg?itok=6_BJdXO8)
Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas waits anxiously during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Oklahoma Federalist James Limbaugh talks with other senators as they keep track of votes during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0008_20170725_pres_election_8585.jpg?itok=6X4ZAVIb)
Oklahoma Federalist James Limbaugh talks with other senators as they keep track of votes during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Florida Federalist Austin Barclay waits anxiously during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0009_20170725_pres_election_5165.jpg?itok=S4VYY3rv)
Florida Federalist Austin Barclay waits anxiously during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Alabama Federalist Nicholas Albright tracks votes during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0010_20170725_pres_election_8611.jpg?itok=2xIEfBUi)
Alabama Federalist Nicholas Albright tracks votes during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas celebrates being elected 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0011_20170725_pres_election_8710.jpg?itok=avay4Iku)
Alabama Nationalist Darius Thomas celebrates being elected 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn speaks during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0012_20170725_pres_election_5442.jpg?itok=BSXDEdnI)
Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn speaks during the election process for 2017 American Legion Boys Nation president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![South Carolina Nationalist Decker Paulmeier speaks during the American Legion Boys Nation vice-presidential debates on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/legion/photo-album/001_20170725_debate_7891_gallery.jpg?itok=Zxx0dmbs)
South Carolina Nationalist Decker Paulmeier speaks during the American Legion Boys Nation vice-presidential debates on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn speaks during the American Legion Boys Nation vice-presidential debates on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0013_20170725_debates_7871.jpg?itok=MbzoLAvZ)
Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn speaks during the American Legion Boys Nation vice-presidential debates on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn celebrates being elected 2017 American Legion Boys Nation vice-president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0014_20170725_pres_election_8793.jpg?itok=0FUwWuN7)
Tennessee Federalist Jayson Blackburn celebrates being elected 2017 American Legion Boys Nation vice-president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.
![Kentucky Nationalist Jameson Bizzle dances following the election of Boys Nation president and vice-president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/0015_20170725_pres_election_8866.jpg?itok=7EPAZ5RR)
Kentucky Nationalist Jameson Bizzle dances following the election of Boys Nation president and vice-president on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth / The American Legion.