ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The holidays are filled with events and light displays, including the lighting of a tree in Albuquerque Civic Plaza that has a deeper meaning behind it.

People gathered Saturday to light an Angel Tree to honor New Mexico children who have been lost to abuse and neglect. Each of the tree’s ornaments contains the name and a photo of a New Mexico child who lost their life because of abuse and neglect.

“We want people to understand we’re never going to forget them. We’re going to be mentioning their name. I’m of a firm believer that the minute we stop speaking their name, that’s when they’re gone,” said Frank Montano, of the Guardians of the Children Rio Grande chapter.

Guardians of the Children motorcycle club has put on this Angel Tree event for the past 10 years.

“My prayer is that we don’t need to add anymore,” Montano said. “No child deserves to live in fear.”

Throughout the rest of the year, the guardians will work with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and the court system to help other kids who have become victims. That could mean escorting the child to court or school and providing protection and comfort to them.

“Most importantly, empower them to not be afraid. Because of all that, our conviction rates are extremely high,” Montano said.

Despite any stereotypes about bikers, Montano says this work is their most important.

“We use that word ‘adopt’ in our motorcycle family and we give them a road name. They wear a vest, they wear a patch very similar to ours, so they become one of us,” Montano said.

YOUTH SPORTS

Gianna Chavez earns fourth in boys 8-and-under race

New Mexico had 17 athletes earn All American awards at the 2025 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship meet held Saturday at snowy Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Indiana.

Gianni Chavez, of Albuquerque Athletics Track, earned his fourth USA Track & Field All American award with a fourth place finish in the 8-and-under boys 2K race. Chavez, an Osuna Elementary third-grader, ran his 2K race in a personal best time of 7 minutes, 44.9 seconds.

The top 25 individual finishers and top three teams earn USATF All American awards.

The Cougar Track Club 8U girls team, based out of Albuquerque, placed second and was led by Antonette Marquez, who finished 12th. Other CTC 8U girls team members include Kimberly Reed (31st), Viola Crabbe Maple (55th), Payton Pacheco (61st), Chloe Chino (85th), Emery Grieco (113th) and Zay’a Cheromiah (149th).

Others individual All American award winners include Ava Denton, of AAT, 16th in 13/14 girls 4K; Brynlee Reed, of CTC, 22nd in 15/16 girls 5K; Sihasin Fleg, of Running Medicine, 21st in 8U girls 2K; Eden Pino, of Running Medicine, 12th in 9/10 girls 3K; Nizhoni Fleg, of Running Medicine, 14th in 17/18 girls 5K; Brady Garcia, of Running Medicine, seventh in 17/18 boys 5K; Justice Jones, of Zia, 14th in 9/10 girls 3K; Emilo Otero Soltero, of Dukes Track Club, 12th in 9/10 boys 3K; Miles Gray, unattached, 21st in 9/10 boys 3K.

Also Saturday, at the Brooks Cross Country Nationals in San Diego, Eldorado’s Gianna Rahmer placed 17th in the girls championship 5K with a time of 18:00.7 and Moriarty’s Carmen Dorsey-Spitz placed 25th 18:09.4.