Bands played and hundreds gathered to honor and support veterans throughout Southern New Mexico. Veterans said Veteran’s Day is a special day to recognize those who should be honored all year.
“As far as the Vietnam Veteran’s,” Robert De Herrera said. “We didn’t have no parades, or nobody said thank you or anything like that. We didn’t have any benefits, and everything has changed. And I’m so proud of these people that showed up today.”
“What I like about it is,” Roy Maldonado. “That history’s not repeating itself. When Vietnam Veteran’s and Korea came back, we forgot about those and all that. We have the Veteran’s now from Iraq and Afghanistan, we’re recognized. We have parades, we have all these events, and so this is a good time to bring all the organizations from different times of service. Bring them together and show the United States still supports them and stands behind them.”
“I think it’s just to show people that we’re appreciated,” Kirby Prickett said. “Sometimes we’re not shown that. It’s not a major thing with me, but I think it gives the citizens a chance to get out and welcome their veterans, and show their support.”
While thanking Veteran’s for their service, many says it’s also a time to remember the problems Veterans continue to face.
“The biggest problem is young guys coming back from war,” Gregory Long said. “Don’t want to have anything to do with organization or regimented things, and they don’t reach out for help soon enough.”
“I think we’re going forward and helping the veterans real good and all this,” Roy Maldonado said. “It’s just a communication problem we’re still having, the organization structure, and how the veteran’s get their benefits, so I think we are moving forward, and I think veteran’s are getting their benefits.”
After the parade others stopped by Veteran’s Memorial Park for a quiet moment to remember those who served.
Like Melissa Guillen, who came out with her father, a World War II Veteran.
“We just remember all the ones who fought for the war,” Guillen said. “Not only that, but we do honor my daddy and of course he fought for WWII and he is 92 years old, so we like to bring him out for lunch, and bring him to the memorial, and just spend the day.”
