NM can stay safe and celebrate Memorial Day

Suggestions for healthy ways we can enjoy the holiday

Memorial Day has historically been a time to gather with friends and family while honoring the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. This year, it will unfortunately have to look quite different.

As we recognize and celebrate the sacrifices of the U.S. military protecting our country we must each work individually to protect one another in this time of COVID-19.

At Presbyterian, we want to acknowledge and thank our community in New Mexico for the way you have stepped up to help us care for all of you during the pandemic. From donating supplies for hard-hit communities to sending front-line employees beautiful, inspiring messages, your support has truly meant the world to us at this difficult, uncertain time.

This Memorial Day, the very best way you can continue to help all of us is by staying healthy yourself. That means washing your hands regularly, wearing a mask and staying six feet away from other people if you have to go out, and continuing to limit gatherings to five people.

This last piece is tough for all of us, especially at times like Memorial Day. We all know this is getting hard. Just like you, our staff and clinicians want to hug each other and visit their loved ones in person. We all want to return to “normal” as soon as possible.

But while we have made great strides in New Mexico to expand testing, limit new cases and explore new treatments, this is not the time to let down our guard. Instead, this is the time to continue to be safe and as careful as we possibly can.

For all of us in health care, this means staying healthy ourselves so we can continue to staff our hospitals, clinics, testing sites and urgent care facilities. It means staying healthy so that we are ready and able to care for you, whether you need treatment related to COVID-19 or for any other reason.

With that in mind, there are many great ways we can all safely celebrate the holiday this year. Here are a few things that we all can do, while following public health guidance:

Host a virtual barbecue with extended family.

Enjoy a hike and picnic at a New Mexico state park.

Join a virtual remembrance ceremony.

Visit a family member’s gravesite with immediate family.

Light a candle at home to honor fallen military heroes.

New Mexicans, together, we can keep up the great work and keep each other healthy. From all of us, please enjoy a safe and healthy Memorial Day.