Governor Richardson Plans Christmas Day Veterans Event

Thursday, December 22, 2005
 

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson will honor New Mexico's veterans in a ceremony on Sunday, Christmas Day at the Bataan Memorial on the capitol grounds at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony is a memorial flag raising and tribute to those New Mexico Servicemen and women serving away from their families and loved ones during this holiday season and to all New Mexico veterans.

"I want every New Mexican to take a moment on Christmas day to honor all those who have served, all who are on active duty now and all who have fallen fighting for our freedom around the world," Governor Richardson said. "I also want us to remember their families here in New Mexico who are spending the holidays without a loved one."

Governor Richardson's Christmas Day Events

10:00-10:30 a.m. - Veterans Ceremony, Bataan Memorial Monument, Santa Fe

11:45-12:15 p.m. - Christmas Lunch at Holy Faith Church for the Homeless, Ashbaugh Park, Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe

12:30-1:00 p.m. - Salvation Army Annual Christmas Dinner and Gift Distribution for Children, Salvation Army Offices, 525 W. Alameda, Santa Fe

 

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES

HOLIDAY TRIBUTE TO VETERANS

DECEMBER 25, 2005

AGENDA

10:00 AM Presentation of Colors

Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico Color Guard

10:05 AM Pledge of Allegiance

VFW State Commander George Martinez

10:10 AM Invocation

Sardo Sanchez, Commander American Legion Post 72

10:15 AM Secretary John Garcia - Welcome

Governor Bill Richardson - Comments

NM National Guard Representative - Comments

10:20 AM Candle Lighting Ceremony

Representing Five Branches of Service

* Reading of 20 U.S. Soldiers killed in Iraq and

and Afghanistan. Read by NM National Guard

Members

Killed in Iraq:

_Marine Lance Cpl. Chad Robert Hildebrandt of Springer, 22, a 2003 graduate of Maxwell High School, killed Oct. 17 in Rutba, Iraq, after being shot in the head during his second tour in Iraq.

-Private First Class, Lori Piestewa, 22, killed when her convoy was ambushed on March 23, 2003 near Nasiriya.

_Private First Class, Mario Reyes, 19, of Las Cruces, one of four soldiers killed when a car exploded near their dismounted patrol in Bagdad on November 7, 2005

_New Mexico National Guard Sgt. Marshal A. Westbrook, 43, of Farmington, a member of the Albuquerque-based 126th Military Police Company, killed Oct.

1 in Baghdad after being struck in the head by shrapnel from an explosive device.

_Army Cpl. Lyle Cambridge of Shiprock, a 2000 graduate of Aztec High School, killed July 5 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle in which he was riding. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Carson, Colo.

_Air Force Special Forces 1st Lt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, a 1997 graduate of Farmington High School, killed May 30 when an Iraqi single-engine plane crashed near Jalula, about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad.

_Reserve Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Grant, 23, of Pojoaque, killed May 11 when the amphibious assault vehicle he was in was hit by an explosive device.

_Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Rodriguez, 25, Las Cruces, killed Jan. 28 when an improvised explosive struck his vehicle in south Baghdad.

_Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Adlesperger, 20, Albuquerque, a rifleman killed Dec. 9, 2004, during fighting in the Anbar province.

_Army Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, 27, Albuquerque, killed Nov. 27, 2004, when a homemade bomb was detonated near his patrol vehicle in Ad Duilayah, Iraq.

_Army Spc. Christopher A. Merville, 26, Albuquerque, killed Oct. 12, 2004, when his unit came under fire during combat operations in Baghdad.

_Marine Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, 33, Roswell, shot Aug. 5, 2004, during fighting in Najaf on his second tour of duty.

_Army Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, 34, Roswell, a tank mechanic killed Aug. 3, 2004, when he was caught between two vehicles in his motor pool in Taji.

_Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, Lovington, killed April 26, 2004, in Fallujah during his second tour in Iraq.

_Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Ramos, 26, Albuquerque, killed April 5, 2004, from hostile fire in Anbar province during his second tour of duty.

_Army Spc. James "Heath" Pirtle, 27, La Mesa, a graduate of Carlsbad High School, killed Oct. 4, 2003, when the Bradley fighting vehicle he was in was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Assadah.

___

Killed in Afghanistan:

_Air Force Maj. Steven Plumhoff, 33, stationed with Kirtland Air Force Base's 58th Special Operations Wing, killed Nov. 23, 2003, when his MH-53J Pave Low helicopter crashed near Bagram, Afghanistan.

_Air Force 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, 23, of Belen, co-pilot of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, killed when the helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on a mercy mission on March 23, 2003.

_Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher James Speer, 28, of Albuquerque, died Aug. 7, 2002, after being wounded in an ambush on July 27 in the east of Afghanistan.

_Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, 26, a Carlsbad native who also lived in Farmington and Gallup, killed March 4, 2002, while rescuing wounded troops in Marzak, Afghanistan.

 

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