From left, Jase Ebersole, Bern Ebersole and Lance Logan (MEREDITH SPENCER The Vicksburg Post)

[1/18/05]Three St. Aloysius High School students are about to see history in the making.

Bern and Jase Ebersole and Lance Logan packed their tuxes and boarded a plane today for Washington, D.C., to watch the swearing-in of George W. Bush for his second term at the U.S. Capitol Thursday.

They will join about eight other members of Mississippi American Legion Boys and Girls State and students from Mississippi universities for five days of inaugural festivities.

Steve Guyton is in charge of public relations for Mississippi American Legion Boys and Girls State and encouraged members to write their congressmen in order to get tickets for the inauguration. It worked.

“If you’re interested in government this is the thing,” he said. “It’s a chance to learn about opportunities in Washington. It’s like going to the Super Bowl in sports.”

Bern and Lance, both seniors at St. Al, have been involved for the last year with Boys State, a group of about 400 students who learn how state and local government and elections work. The group goes through governmental processes, including mock elections. They said it was there that they became interested in politics.

“I always had an interest,” Lance said. “It was Boys State that ignited me, pushed me over the edge, and I haven’t looked back.”

“It opens you up,” he said. “It makes you throw away being shy.”

They will need to put all shyness aside, because there is a possibility they might meet the president. Bern and Jase have VIP passes an added bonus an uncle was able to get for them to the Boots and Black Tie ball, President Bush’s Texas inaugural ball. The two had to borrow cowboy boots to go along with the tuxes they already had.

“I’ll probably freeze up and choke,” Bern said.

Jase, a sophomore, has not attended Boys State, but is planning to follow in both of his brothers’ footsteps. He said he is already interested in politics something he said was evident in the 2004 election when he pulled for the incumbent Bush.

“From hearing Bern, my parents and Alan talk about politics I have an interest,” he said.

Alan Ebersole, 20, Bern and Jase’s older brother, was a member of Boys State when he attended St. Al. Before his death in October, the Princeton University sophomore worked on the Clinton B. LeSeuer campaign last summer.

“Alan was a big Republican he worked for Clinton LeSeuer,” Bern said. “He should probably be going instead of us. We’ll definitely think about him while we’re there.”

For all of them, the inauguration is a chance to open doors. Lance has already been accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and he plans to major in political science.

“I wouldn’t usually have the chance to do this,” Lance said. “I want to get my face in these people’s minds.”

The boys are staying with relatives in the area, but Guyton will take the group of high school and college students around to meet the entire Mississippi delegation in Washington.

“It’s an investment in our future,” Bern said. “We get to meet all the higher-ups in government.”

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democrat who represents the 2nd District, which includes Vicksburg, sent them tickets to the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

On Wednesday, they will go to the Mississippi Red, White and Blues ball, which will feature B.B. King. They also are invited to a breakfast Thursday hosted by Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, and they will attend the inaugural parade before the inauguration.

“We’re really excited,” Lance said. “We’re probably the most political people in the school.”