(SANTA FE,NM)—New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez was joined by New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale and other dignitaries in welcoming home Santa Fe native Army Sgt. First Class Leroy Petry, the nation’s most recent Medal of Honor Recipient.

Sgt. Petry was feted at a Ceremony on July 29th at the State Capitol Rotunda—where the Governor led the singing of “Happy Birthday” to mark Sgt. Petry’s 32nd birthday—and a Parade on August 1st through the streets of downtown Santa Fe.

It was Sgt. Petry’s first visit to his hometown since he was presented with the nation's highest military honor by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on July 12th in recognition for Sgt. Petry's heroism on May 26th, 2008. On that date and while pinned down by the enemy in Afghanistan, Sgt. Petry—despite having been shot in both legs by enemy fire--was credited with saving the lives of several of his fellow U.S. Army Rangers when he threw away an enemy grenade tossed at their position. He lost his right hand when the grenade detonated just as he threw it.  

“I’ve received plenty of recognition at ceremonies since I was presented my award, and they’ve all been tremendous,” said Sgt. Petry at the July 29th Rotunda ceremony. “But this one is the most special to me, because it’s from my hometown…in front of all of the people who have helped mold me into the man I am today.”

NMDVS Secretary Hale called Sgt. Petry a true soldier for living up to The Soldier’s Creed, which all soldiers are sworn to live by.
“’'I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade’. This is a part the Soldier’s Creed that Sgt. Petry so bravely demonstrated,” said NMDVS Secretary Hale. “Sgt. Petry willingly risked his own life to save the lives of his comrades. We are all proud to be here today in his hometown to welcome home our national hero.”
During the August 1st parade, Governor Martinez, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss, and NMDVS Secretary Hale were among other dignitaries who led the procession from in front of Fire Station #1…down Bishop’s Lodge Road to the Plaza…and to a post-parade ceremony and reception at the Convention Center. Sgt. Petry rode high atop a special Float, joined by fellow Medal of Honor Recipient from New Mexico, former U.S. Army Major Drew Dix, who was presented his award for saving and helping rescue his Army unit which came under heavy attack during the Korean War.

“This is all so surreal; a parade for me, here in my hometown,” said Sgt. Petry after the parade and just before walking out to a thunderous ovation at the start of the post-parade ceremony. “This is absolutely incredible.”

Sergeant Petry is only the second living recipient to receive the Medal of Honor since the end of the Vietnam War, as well as only the thirteenth New Mexican to ever receive the award. He is fitted with a special robotic right hand, and by his own request after the 2008 incident is still on active-duty status.

He has been deployed eight times during the War on Terror (twice to Iraq;  and six times to Afghanistan—including once since he was fitted with the robotic prosthetic hand), and has been sent on more than 230 U.S. Army Ranger combat missions since enlisting with the Ranger Program a year after graduating from St. Catherine Indian School in 1998.

Sgt. Petry currently lives in Washington state along with his wife Ashley and their children Landon, Brittany, Austin, and Reagan. He is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord just outside of Tacoma.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry (far right, in tan beret) is escorted to the Capitol  Rotunda for the July 29th Ceremony. To the left of him are: Governor Susana Martinez (in white suit), Petry’s wife Ashely (in red blouse), Adjutant General Kenny Montoya (in black beret), Santa Fe Mayor David Coss (in tan tie), and NMDVS Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale (in red tie).	Petry shares a laugh with Miyamura, a native and long-time resident of Gallup who was presented a Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Korean War.
Governor Martinez addresses the overflow crowd in the Capitol Rotunda.	A squad of Santa Fe Police Motorcycle Units leads the parade down San Francisco street as the procession marches along the plaza.
Sgt. Petry and fellow Medal of Honor Recipient Drew Dix salute uniformed National Guardsmen lining the parade route.	Drew Dix, Sgt. Petry, NMDVS Secretary Timothy Hale, and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez pose for a picture after the parade and just before the post-parade ceremony & reception.