Current Argus Article - 2010
CARLSBAD — The month of June was a clean sweep for Allen Semrau and his family during the American Legion's state convention in Albuquerque.
The retired veteran was elected commander for the American Legion Department of New Mexico, his wife, Jan, was named president of the state women's auxiliary, and their granddaughters, Samantha and Kaitlyn Kiriluk, ages 15 and 13, were respectively elected president and first vice president of the organization's junior auxiliary.
Getting elected to the state's top posts was the easy part. For Allen and Jan, their 12-month reign will mean a lot of travel as they visit American Legion posts numbering about 84 around the state. Allen will also be responsible for overseeing the funds of the organization and representing the membership at the national meetings and functions.
"Having our granddaughters involved is great. We are excited and looking forward to traveling around the state," Jan said.
Allen's involvement in the American Legion was a natural progression for him. A Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Allen served 16 years in the Marine Corp and 10 years in the Army. He said that, after leaving the service, it was important to him to continue to support the country's men and women in the armed services.
"I wanted to give back to the veterans and America for what they had done for me," Allen said.
"Before we got married, Allen told me he was a lifer (the term used for military career personnel)," Jan said with a chuckle. "He is still a lifer, but just in a different capacity. I got involved in the American Legion to support Allen. But it became quickly evident to me that this was an organization I wanted to be involved in after I saw all the good things they have done, and continue to do."
A New York native, Allen moved to Las Cruces after his honorable discharge and worked for Schwan's for 12 years. In 1997, he and Jan, a West Texas native, relocated to Carlsbad to be near Jan's parents, who were living here at the time.
Allen joined the American Legion Bryan Mudgett Post 7 and Jan soon followed as a member of the auxiliary. The couple worked their way up the office ranks of the local post and soon became involved at the state level.
With barely a month under his belt, Allen has already set goals for himself as the state commander and believes he can successfully achieve them.
"My goal in the year I have as state commander is to get everyone working together and increase membership," Allen explained.
"Within the American Legion there are three other branches that I will be involved in. They include the Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Riders and Boys Nation/Boys State. We support Boys Nation and State because it teaches our youth civics and government and gives them hands-on involvement in the government process, youth baseball and oratorical programs."
As state auxiliary president, Jan said her goal is for all state American Legion Auxiliary chapters is to work as one in their support of Legion and auxiliary projects that involve veterans, children and youth in communities around the state.
"Our biggest program is Girls State. It's the same program as Boys State and Nation. Boys and Girls State is held every year in the summer at Eastern New Mexico University. The kids that participate are high school students. A little known fact is that students that participate in the program can earn three poly science college credits from Eastern. The credits are transferable to the college of their choice," Jan said.
She said her cornerstone project as auxiliary president will be the Creative Arts Festival, which will travel to communities around the state.
"There are a lot of vets going through the VA (Veterans hospitals and clinics) that are very talented. We want to showcase their talents in the performing arts," she said.
Allen said he attributes his successful election as state commander to Mario Salinas, current commander of the American Legion in Carlsbad, and T.J. Trevino, former local chapter and national commander of the organization.
"Their expertise has helped me to be where I am today," he said.
