Editorial: Memorial Day has special meaning to New Mexicans

Right this moment is a really big day for a lot of New Mexicans, one each close to and expensive to our hearts, and one that may be painful.

Since New Mexico turned a state, and even previous to that, New Mexicans have given greater than their fair proportion to defend freedom and democracy.

Not lengthy after gaining statehood in 1912, greater than 250 New Mexicans died in fight or of illness in World Struggle I. Greater than 2,600 New Mexican troopers, airmen, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen died in World Struggle II, a few of them struggling brutal and agonizing deaths through the notorious Bataan Dying March.

There have been additionally 24 New Mexicans misplaced at sea aboard submarines throughout World Struggle II. They by no means received a ticker tape parade and medals pinned to their uniforms. As a substitute, they lie eternally entombed of their submarines on seabeds stretching to the Sea of Japan. USS Bullhead Memorial Park at 1606 San Pedro Boulevard SE is devoted to 84 sailors who gave their final full measure up till the final days of World Struggle II. Historians consider the Bullhead was sunk the identical day the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Aug. 6, 1945. The submarine was the final U.S. Navy ship sunk by enemy motion throughout WWII.

Extra not too long ago, New Mexicans died at twice the speed of different Individuals in Iraq and Afghanistan. One in every of them was Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez of Las Cruces. He was killed in jap Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in February 2020 after an Afghan opened hearth on him and different troopers. Extremely, it was the 2009 Mayfield Excessive College graduate’s eighth deployment to Afghanistan.

Allow us to keep in mind all their sacrifices immediately after we see American flags fluttering from houses, autos and at gravesites. Occasions are occurring throughout the state.

• Town of Rio Rancho will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park from 10 to 11 a.m.

• Audio system and historians can be stationed all through Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd. SE, to inform the tales of the cemetery’s everlasting residents. A donation of $20 per individual is requested to assist preserve the cemetery and supply instructional supplies. There can be a brief ceremony and flag elevating at 9:30 a.m.

• After a two-year pause as a result of pandemic, the Santa Fe Nationwide Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe St., will host a public ceremony immediately starting at 10 a.m. It’ll function speeches, a second of silence, a rifle volley and music from the Santa Fe Live performance Band.

And a free occasion with representatives of all branches of the navy will happen immediately at New Mexico Veterans Memorial amphitheater, 1100 Louisiana SE, in Albuquerque. Becky Christmas, the Albuquerque chapter president of the American Gold Star Moms, is keynote speaker. Musical choices can be offered by The Dukes of Albuquerque, carried out by Ralph Harris, starting at 9 a.m. A ceremony that can embrace Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham begins at 10 a.m.

There isn’t any denying New Mexicans have a robust patriotic streak — many households have a convention of serving within the navy from one era to the following. And we now have disproportionately misplaced little children, mothers and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and mates and neighbors.

Right this moment is an opportunity to recollect those that made the supreme sacrifice and by no means made it residence. Their residence state and nation are ceaselessly grateful.

This editorial first appeared within the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned because it represents the opinion of the newspaper slightly than the writers.