The city of Albuquerque is organizing a Veterans Day celebration on Thursday, which will include a parade, musical tributes and ceremonies for living and fallen veterans.
The ceremony will take place at 1100 Louisiana Blvd. NE in Albuquerque at the Veterans Memorial from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The ceremony kicks off with a musical prelude by the Dukes of Albuquerque with Ralph Harris conducting. It will play multiple times throughout the day, including the national anthem around 11:15 a.m. There is also a “Parade of State Flags” planned.
Veterans Day remarks will be made by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Jamison Herrera of the New Mexico Army National Guard at around 11:40 a.m.
Finishing out the ceremony will be the presentation of the Veteran of the Year
The American Legion Post 13 honor guard will perform the rifle volley, and Harris will play Taps. "Bagpipes Lament" will be played by Lt. Matt McElroy of the Albuquerque Police Department, and the Dukes of Albuquerque will lead the recessional.
“Not everyone has freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly or the right to bear arms,” said Larry Sonntag, an Air Force veteran and the spokesperson of the New Mexico Business Coalition, which is sponsoring the Veteran of the Year Award. “But Americans do, and that freedom is not free. The dedication and sacrifices made by our military veterans covered the cost of our freedoms."
This year’s Veteran of the Year Award will be presented to Marine veteran Charles Walters, who Sonntag said has exhibited “selfless duty” to both the Marines and the local community.
“He has served in multiple offices in the league, from local to national levels, for which he has received several awards and recognition,” Sonntag told the New Mexico Sun. “The focus of his efforts has been to advance elementary and middle school student skills in such areas as physical fitness, anti-bullying, rifle marksmanship, scouting and patriotism.”
Sonntag added that past recipients Pete Comstock and Roger Newall plan to attend.
Sonntag said Veterans Day is important to remind Americans that the quality of life they enjoy was fought for and defended by men and women in the military.
The NMBC was created in 2009 and its website says it is a “nonpartisan voice for business owners, employees and individuals in New Mexico.”
Veterans Day is celebrated Nov. 11 in honor of Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1918, which is widely considered the end of World War I. although the Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28, 1919, according to Defense.gov. It was changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans both dead and alive.
