Anthony Busatta, an incoming senior at Cape Coral High School, has been selected as a senator for American Legion Boys Nation in the Washington, D.C. area, July 22-29.

Boys Nation is an annual American Legion program that includes civic training, leadership development and a focus on Americanism. Busatta was elected Senate President and City Councilman at Florida Boys State. American Legion Post 90 in Cape Coral sponsored Busatta’s week at Florida Boys State, which had 430 participants.

At Cape Coral High School, Busatta has served as SGA executive board president, Model UN director of training and mock trial president. He is an AP scholar with distinction and member of the A honor roll and National Honor Society.

A resident of Cape Coral, Busatta hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

During their eight days at American Legion Boys Nation, 100 “senators” will learn from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function. Young men are divided into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists, each of which conducts a party convention, sets a platform and nominates members for elected offices, including Boys Nation president, vice president and party leaders. Each senator will also write, introduce and debate a bill of his choosing before an appropriate Senate committee, and if successful at that level the legislation will be voted on by the whole Senate. Bills passing the Senate are later signed or vetoed by the Boys Nation president.

The young men will also have an opportunity to tour the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall and Korean War Memorial. They will also present a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, see the Iwo Jima Memorial and meet with their state’s U.S. senators. They may have the opportunity to visit the White House as well. In addition, delegates will attend a dinner at a nearby American Legion post hosted by National Commander Paul E. Dillard of Texas.

This year’s crop of Boys Nation senators represents the finest of nearly 17,000 incoming seniors who attended Boys State programs.