Honoring veterans
New Mexico Veterans Day events planned for weekend
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I came to an end.
The moment 100 years ago was commemorated with a public holiday, originally called Armistice Day, but at the urging of veterans organizations was renamed in 1954 as Veterans Day.
The holiday today honors the service of all veterans who served in the various branches of the military.
Veterans Day should not be confused with Memorial Day, a national holiday in May that honors all those who died while serving in the military.
Veterans Day observances around the state today and Sunday include:
Albuquerque: Sunday, 9 a.m., parade, New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana SE; musical program at 10 a.m.; ceremony at 11 a.m. with keynote speakers state Veterans Services Secretary Jack Fox, and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
Rio Rancho: Today, 10 a.m., parade, around City Center, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE. Parade participants will line up in the upper west parking lot of the Santa Ana Star Center, circle in front of City Hall and wind their way up King Boulevard; Sunday, 2 p.m. ceremony, Veterans Memorial Park, 950 Pinetree Road SE.
Tijeras: Sunday 11 a.m., wreath laying ceremony, Luis Garcia Veterans Park, 4 Tijeras Avenue, followed by a musical performance.
Santa Fe: Sunday, 10 a.m., parade, down Bishops Lodge Road/Washington Avenue, around Plaza Park, to the Bataan Memorial Building at 400 Don Gaspar Avenue, where a ceremony will be held featuring remarks by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall.
Los Lunas: Sunday, 11 a.m., annual Honoring All Who Served Veterans Day celebration, Daniel Fernandez Memorial Park, 1103 Highway 314. Veterans from each branch of service will be recognized
during the Jubilation Barbershop Quartet performance of the Armed Forces Medley. The flag will be raised by firemen using the Valencia County Fire Department ladder truck. The ceremony will culminate with the release of 30 white doves.
Belen: Today, 2-4 p.m. Belen Harvey House Museum, 104 N 1st Street, will celebrate veterans with an open house featuring uniforms from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and more. The celebration will include music, light refreshments and special guest speaker Lynn Darr, who served as a master chief in the U.S. Navy.
Las Cruces: Today, parade, 3 p.m., through downtown Las Cruces on Main Street; Sunday, 8 a.m., raising of the Garrison Flag at Veterans Park, 1151 Roadrunner Parkway, flag lowering at 5 p.m.
Mesilla: Sunday, 11 a.m. ceremony, Parque de Veteranos, Highway 28 and Calle de Norte. Featured speaker will be U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Wendy Woodard.
Angel Fire: Sunday, 11 a.m., Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 34 Country Club Road, annual Veterans Day program at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial amphitheater. Keynote speaker will be Alan Martinez, deputy cabinet secretary with the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services.