Veterans’ Day to be Celebrated in Communities Throughout New Mexico

(SANTA FE, NM)-Honoring and coming to the aid of the men and women who’ve served in the United States military was the message on Veterans’ Day in New Mexico on November 11th.

There were more than 40 ceremonies, parades, breakfasts, luncheons and other Veterans’ Day ceremonies in communities throughout the state. Most events were well attended by New Mexicans wanting to honor veterans on the day which was originally declared by Congress as Armistice Day in 1919 to mark the one-year anniversary of the November 11th signing at 11a.m. of the Treaty of Versailles  which ended World War I. The day was also for honoring the men who valiantly served in the war.  Congress changed it in 1954 as a day to honor all veterans of the U.S. military.

Most ceremonies began at 11am—marking the first time in New Mexico’s history as a state that the annual 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month ceremony honoring the signing of the Treaty will be observed on 11/11/11. The next such occurrence won’t happen again until 100-years later, in 2111.

New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Secretary Tim Hale delivered the Keynote Address before a big crowd at the annual Veterans’ Day ceremony at the State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences. In addition to thanking the veterans for their sacrifice while serving and protecting our country, Secretary Hale asked New Mexicans to join him with helping New Mexico’s newest generation of veterans as they come home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Many of our younger veterans around the state are dealing with unemployment and homelessness,” said Secretary Hale. “But help doesn’t come with programs. People are the key to success in serving those who have served and sacrificed for us. It will be the community groups, Faith groups, veterans’ service organizations, and us—those of us who work with and interact with veterans every day-- who will make the greatest, most lasting, most immediate impact.”

Similar sentiments were echoed at the annual Santa Fe Veterans’ Memorial, where NMDVS Deputy Secretary Alan Martinez was among the speakers to pay tribute to veterans.

“We owe our freedom to the men and women who have laid their lives on the line to protect it for us,” said Deputy Secretary Martinez during his remarks in front of a crowd of more than 300 people. “We should not forget these heroes when they come home.”

Governor Susana Martinez paid tribute to veterans as the Keynote Speaker at the annual Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial State Park Veterans’ Day Ceremony in Angel Fire.

“There is no greater example of love of country than their sacrifice,” said Governor Martinez about veterans. “I thank you and the families of veterans. I thank you for your commitment to our freedom.”

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss reading the Governor Susana Martinez’s Veterans’ Day Proclamation at the Santa Fe Veterans’ Memorial.

Mitchell Maloy and Suzanna Ausborn, widow and son of USAF MAJ Jeffrey Ausborn, receiving their Memorial Purple Heart Plaque from Military Order of the Purple Heart State Commander Roger Newall at the Albuquerque Veterans’ Day ceremony.

Members of the United Military Women of the Southwest wave to the crowd during the Las Cruces Veterans’ Day Parade

Mo Pruitt and Jeff Veilleux, both with the Carlsbad Fire Department, perform a Bell-Ringing Ceremony at the Veterans’ Day ceremony on the Eddy County Courthouse lawn. Veilleux rang the bell 11 times to signify the end of World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month of the eleventh day in 1917.