Ceremony honors area vets
Memorial Day event draws crowd downtown

Mike Haag, a Franciscan Brother and a veteran of the Vietnam War, looks over the veterans' monument in front of the McKinley County Courthouse after Monday's ceremony. "The veterans that are in these memorials are worth every bit of it," Haag said. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff Writer

Jerry Ruane salutes the color guard during the Retiring of the Colors at Monday's Veteran's Day ceremony at the McKinley County Courthouse. The celebration made a special effort to honor Iraqi War veterans. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

GALLUP — A black POW/MIA flag waved over the roof of the historic McKinley County Courthouse as several hundred people came out to honor local veterans on Memorial Day.

The event, which was sponsored by the city of Gallup, McKinley County, and the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, honored all area veterans. This year's specific theme was "Honoring Iraqi War Veterans," and several veterans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan were honored during the ceremony.

Mayor Harry Mendoza opened the celebration with welcoming remarks. Mendoza is a Korean War vet and a member of the Gallup/McKinley Veterans Committee that worked to create the Courthouse Square and Veterans Park and Memorial. Americans owe their freedom, Mendoza said, to the men and women who are willing give their lives through military service. Later in the ceremony, the mayor read a Memorial Day proclamation from the city in support of Iraqi War veterans.

Former city official Lisa Baca Diaz, who has worked to compile accurate lists of veterans' names for inclusion on the pillars in front of the courthouse, spoke about the project. Adding names to the pillars is an ongoing project, she said, and local families are encouraged to submit applications to have the names of family veterans added to the pillars.

Because of input from the community, Baca Diaz added, a whole new listing for Spanish-American War veterans was added to the Memorial. Twenty-nine local men volunteered for that conflict, she said, and served under Teddy Roosevelt.

Prior to the recognition of veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Alexandria Joe, 14, Miss Tsayatoh Veterans Princess, offered her remarks of gratitude to local veterans. Joe is the granddaughter of John K. Yazzie Sr., who served during World War II.

Cal Curley, of Rep. Tom Udall's Gallup office, presented remarks from Udall. "Duty and honor are easy words to say, but it is rare that an individual is forced to confront whether they are truly bound by them," read Curley. "Our American soldiers live day-to-day with these virtues."

Udall's statement also recalled President Harry Truman's belief that Memorial Day was a day for American people to pray for permanent peace and "an appropriate time for each American, according to his own religious faith, to beg Divine aid in bringing enduring peace to a troubled world."

Veteran recognition
American Legion Commander Tom Payton recognized four World War II veterans in attendance - Frank DeLaTorre, Donicio DeLaTorre, Paul Davis, and Antonio Nunes and then called up six veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to receive certificates of appreciation: Leighton R. Ashley, Yolanda D. Frank, Alberta B. Hart, Brian Largo, Brian J. Simonds, and Julius C. Tulley.

As Payton was recognizing the latter veterans, a group of veterans on motorcycles roared by on neighboring Third Street. "That's a sound I've grown to love," said Payton of the interruption.

Payton also recognized Rachel Wyn of Mexican Springs, who was injured, he said, while working at the Pentagon on Sept. 11. Payton also recognized Phillip Ramirez Jr. who served with the New Mexico Army National Guard's Task Force Cobra, an elite group, he said, comprised of the best guardsmen from across the state.

"We have asked Rachel to be here today to remind us when the War on Terror started. It started on Sept. 11, 2001," said Payton.

"From now on, when you hear the words Task Force Cobra, I am asking that your remember that this is an elite unit with a dangerous mission," Payton said of Ramirez. "I am also asking you to remember that one of Gallup's sons was a part of Task Force Cobra."

Velma Ruane, the mother of Staff Sgt. Steven C. Cole, was given the opportunity to address the audience. Her son, a member of the 101st Airborne and a Bronze Star recipient, could not attend, she said, because he was returning to the Middle East for his sixth tour of duty.

Soldier support
Ruane, a Blue Star Mother, aimed criticism at the tactics of some anti-war protesters. No one dislikes war more than soldiers and their families, she said. "We are neither for or against the war," Ruane said, "we are for our children."

Although Americans have a right to free speech, she said, that right should not be used to harm the very soldiers who are protecting them. Ruane encouraged everyone to send thank you notes and letters to servicemen and women, to welcome them when they returned home, and to mentor and encourage returning veterans.

Payton also presented three American Legion Post 8 Awards to community members who have worked to support area veterans. Ronnie Brittian, the adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans, was honored as Veteran of the Year for his efforts to assist veterans; Patty Lundstrom was honored as Civilian of the Year for her efforts to build and fund the Veterans Park and Memorial; and Pat Balock was honored as Educator of the Year for her work with cadets in the local Civil Air Patrol.

The ceremony concluded with the Retiring of Colors by Gallup Civil Air Patrol Cadets to a bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace" and the traditional "Taps."

For information about how to get a McKinley County veteran's name added to one of the pillars in front of the courthouse, contact Shannon Chaidez at (505) 863-1400, Tom Payton at 488-5731, or Lisa Baca Diaz at 726-2612.