Elected leaders, veterans and families of veterans visited Santa Fe National Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor the city’s fallen service members.
“On this solemn day together, we have gathered to remember courageous men and women,” Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said at the cemetery, KRQE reported. “Military service often comes with immense sacrifice. We must never forget the stories and the histories of our brave men and women.”
Lujan, who said former and current military members “represent the best of our nation,” was among many speakers at the ceremony. Major General Miguel Aguilar with the New Mexico National Guard shed light on the importance of the holiday, KRQE said.
“As much as we all like a good barbeque and the start of the summer, this weekend is about more than that,” Aguilar said. “I’m going to ask you to open your hearts in gratitude. Gratitude to know that 1.2 million service members swore an oath to defend the constitution of the United States and gave their lives doing so.”
Imelda Delgado spoke about how numerous family members served and were buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery, including her father, who was in World War I, and her brothers, who were in the Navy and Marine Corps.
“[The day] means all the wonderful memories and the sacrifices they made, not only for their country but for all of us,” Delgado said, according to KRQE.
Veteran family member Claire Pino said, “What brings me out here is to visit my brother, my uncle, my father-in-law, and my mother-in-law. We come each year to preserve and reunite with them and their spirits.”
Another attendee, Nate Sterba, said, “We’ve been coming out here to Santa Fe Cemetery for about 35 years. Since I was a young boy, my grandmother had a tradition of coming up to visit my grandfather’s grave.”