Tuesday is Silver Star Day

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Tuesday will be Silver Star Day in New Mexico and Gallup, with events scheduled in Gallup, Albuquerque and several other New Mexico cities.

The event is being sponsored by the Silver Star Families of American, a nonprofit organization formed in April, 2005, to honor those military personnel who have been wounded in war or who suffer from Agent Orange or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Nicole Walker, a volunteer for the organization, said Gallup will be participating in the first Silver Star Day by holding a ceremony at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the city plaza.

The event here in Gallup will include presentations by Cedar Lodge, the UNM-Gallup drum group, and the 9/11 Young Golden Eagle Warrior Society. There will be a special presentation of a silver star emblem to Harry Mendoza to honor him as Gallup's mayor and Sherill Walker will give a message of healing.

The Gallup ceremony is scheduled to last less than half an hour as the group will be leaving Gallup to attend another ceremony that is scheduled to be held in the Veteran's Hospital in Albuquerque beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Walker said she wasn't sure what was being planned in Albuquerque.

The events here in Gallup, she said, were all planned within the last two days since she wasn't asked by the national organization to do something here in Gallup until Thursday.

She said at first she was told that the group would have to have a bond to hold the event but after discussing the situation with the city's assistant manager, Larry Binkley, the group was allowed to hold the event without posting any bond.

Next year, she said, the celebration will be more elaborate.

Persons who want to learn more about the organization can find out more by going to the group's website - www.silverstarfamiles.org