American Legion Post 18 honors Boys' and Girls' state participants

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

American Legion Allingham-Golding Post 18 Boys' State organizer John Sterle served as moderator at the ceremony honoring the boys who attended this year's Boys' State from Cliff, Silver City, Glenwood, Mule Creek, Hurley, Hanover and Deming and the girls who went to Girls' State from Silver City and Deming at a banquet held Oct. 19, 2017 at the American Legion Hall.

Also participating in sponsoring boys and girls were the American Legion Post 4 in Deming, and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18 in Silver City and Unit 4 in Deming.

The ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer by Chaplain Don Luhrsen. Sterle explained the small P.O.W.- M.I.A. table, manned by John Robbins, as representing the prisoners of war and missing in action who are unable to join the group that evening, but are not forgotten by their families nor their comrades in arm.

Sterle welcomed the parents and guardians, as well as recognizing those who had organized the catering done by Wrangler's—Chuck Wenzel and the Auxiliary Unit 18. He welcomed Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner and recognized Felix Trujillo as a national committee member from Albuquerque. Also present was Gwen Miller, District 7 auxiliary president, and Ed Miller, state vice president of the American Legion.

Sterle recognized two World War II veterans, Bill Harrison and Dan McBride.

Boys' State and Girls' State each take place every summer for a six-day period at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. "They open up the cafeteria, the dorms, the auditorium and the classrooms for the experience," Sterle said. "It costs our American Legion Department of New Mexico more than $40,000 for each event. It's why we depend on donors. I usually spend a week there with the boys, and so does Dennis Weaver. It's not all classes. Last year, I got to be a referee at a basketball tournament. It's a great show of sportsmanship, as it's played all on the honor system."

He said eight volunteers work in the cafeteria. "We tell the boys to figure out which jobs they want." He said two drivers, Wenzel and Wally Eggebraaten, took the boys from the Silver City area and one from Deming to Portales and returned to bring them back home.

"This next part wasn't in the program," Sterle said, "but we wanted to recognize Emma Rudd. Her essay on "Americanism" took our auxiliary unit's award, went on to win state and was the first-place winner in Class II of the Western Division of the national contest." Read her essay at http://www.grantcountybeat.com/community/community-news/40081-emma-rudd-wins-first-place-in-essay-contest

Emma received a certificate of participation from two members of the Auxiliary Unit 18, Vickie Hawkins and Candy Luhrsen.

The boys who were present were introduced and gave short speeches about their experience at Boys' State.

The first to speak was Tatton Allsup of Mule Creek. "I made lifelong friends at Boys' State. It was great learning about state government. At first, I was part of the Castillo City Council and then I became part of the Public Regulations Commission."

Marshall Julian of Hurley said he started as a state cop. "I ran for attorney general, but lost. I lost sheriff, too, but I got appointed sergeant at arms and as a bodyguard for the governor. I learned how the government works. I disagree with some of it. I plan to go to Western New Mexico University for at least an associate's degree, then transfer to get a criminal justice degree and become a cop."

Joseph Davis of Hanover, said he was part of the Castillo City Council, became a magistrate judge and then district attorney. I am probably going to college. I'm at Aldo Leopold High School right now. Eastern New Mexico University seems nice."

Escher Bowers of Silver City said he appreciates the American Legion keeping the Boys' State program running. "I made a bunch of new friends. I was involved in being three different judges. First magistrate, then district attorney, then city judge. I was the law for a while. I want to go into cinematography, maybe to UNM (University of New Mexico).

Garrett Evans of Glenwood said he was part of the city of Trujillo. "I ran for city judge, but lost to Escher. I became a magistrate judge. I got on a bunch of committees to hunt down crime in the justice system. I got to see how different levels of government work, from local to the governor. If I get a 27 on the ACT, I could get almost a free ride to (New Mexico) Tech. I want to study computer science and go into robotics."

Miller asked the boys if they would recommend Boys' State to juniors. All replied with a resounding yes.

Other boys who attended Boys' State, but did not attend the banquet were Aubrey Palmer of Cliff, Richard Chavez of Hurley, Maurilio "Mario" Garduno of Silver City and David Velez of Deming.

Sterle said the boys publish a daily newspaper. "We had 40 people on staff at Boy's State. We selected a person out of each city. Escher was the editor for his city's newspaper. The staff develops the newspaper each day from articles brought to them. We make enough for all the delegates."

"This year we had only 97 boys," Sterle said. "It's the lowest number New Mexico has ever had. It keeps going down. We used to have 350 to 400 boys attend. We need parents and students who have gone to spread the word. Our post pays for the boys and girls to participate. There are no negatives to going and participating."

He said it was an honor for him to be part of it each year. "I was just elected to the Boys' State Board of Governors. The more boys we have taking part, the better."

Neither of the girls who went to Girls' State from the area, Mattilyn Wiseman of Deming and Charlee Edwards of Silver City, were able to attend the banquet.

Miller said she serves as a dorm mom each year. "Ninety percent of the young ladies, if they were running for office today, I would be voting for. They come up with resolutions that are mind-blowing. They have a head on their shoulders. For five days, we are all government, except for one day when we teach about the auxiliary, and they do community service. They put things together for the homeless, veterans and challenged kids. By the end of the week, some who were reluctant to stay at the beginning, don't want it to finish, because they have made friends for life."

If a student, boy or girl, who next summer will be between the junior and senior year in high school, and would be interested in participating in Boys' State or Girls' State, he or she should contact the school counselor or get in touch with someone at the Silver City American Legion for additional information, by calling 575-534-0780 and leaving a message.