Memorial Day closures and events

Memorial Day will look different in Taos and Colfax counties this year.

Due to a highly infectious novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, many Memorial Day celebrations will be canceled to minimize the possible spread of the virus in crowds.

Annual gatherings to honor the holiday have largely been canceled across the counties and New Mexico; organizers are encouraging people to refrain from gathering.

“We’re abiding by the governor’s orders,” said Angel Fire’s Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial director D.B. Herbst.

The memorial in Angel Fire hosts an annual lunch for those making the trip to pay respects to fallen veterans for Memorial Day. This year, no formal ceremony or event will be held at the location.

Herbst said the grounds and chapel at the memorial will still be open to the public, but the museum portion will be closed.

“People have been coming by but they have been practicing social distancing,” Herbst said.

Veterans advocates Not Forgotten Outreach will also be impacted by the closures for 2020.

The group will be holding a flag-raising ceremony for their Taos Veterans Living Memorial Park, which will begin phase one of construction soon. The flagraising ceremony will take place at noon on Monday (May 25) and will be broadcast live on the group’s Facebook page, but the event is not open to the public.

“I know times right now are very scary, but life must go on,” said Roy Hogsett, chair of Taos Veterans Living Memorial Park. “To the people who would like to honor Memorial Day, go outside and say a prayer for the fallen.”

The village of Questa will still be displaying the flags in the Healing Field of Honor but will not be allowing the public to enter the field. Village officials said this year’s field will be open for display only and no ceremony will be held for the public.

Offices at both the town of Taos and Taos County will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Taos Pueblo will also be closed and will not be holding public events at the Taos Pueblo Veterans Living Memorial.

In Santa Fe, the National Cemetery will be open from sunrise to sunset for the Memorial Day week for visitation. Family members may still place flowers and flags on gravestones; however, larger gatherings will not be allowed.

Staff at the cemetery will have a small ceremony that will be photographed, but members of the public will not be allowed to attend.

No public events or ceremonies will take place this year at the National Cemetery.