Getting prepared: ABOVE: Webelo Nicholas Melicosta holds the US Flag while Caleb Cretella, center, leads the pledge of Allegiance along with cubmaster Ray Cope and Nicholas Esquibel on Monday evening at First Baptist Church of Gallup. Nearly 30 boys and their families attended Monday night's Blue and Gold Banquet, celebrating 78 years of Cub Scouting. BELOW: James Patten, center, talks with Jonathan Cho while Finnian O'Leary, left, listens as the trio fill out a form Monday at the start of the Blue and Gold Banquet at First Baptist Church in Gallup. [Photos by Jeff Jones/Independent]

Gallup residents Ephrem J. Landavazo, fourth from right on top row, and Porfirio Diaz, second from right on top row, pose with other U.S. soldiers in this World War II vintage photograph. According to the photograph's inscription, the photo was reportedly taken in August 1945 in Japan after Bataan Death March survivors Landavazo and Diaz were liberated from a prisoner of war camp. [Photo courtesy of Sally Burrola] Related Story