By KRWG News
Las Cruces – At 6:00pm Monday, January 17, the designers of the New Mexico Veterans Museum will conduct a meeting for Las Cruces area veterans at the Las Cruces American Legion Hall, 1185 East Madrid Ave.
Retired Marine Corps Colonel Joe Long, the Museum Planner will present a multi-media description of the project, solicit your ideas, and answer your questions. Also on the program will be representatives of the New Mexico Department of Veteran's Services.
This is one of 15 such visits that will be held throughout the state during the design process.
Through a statewide competition Las Cruces was selected to be the museum's host city. Legislation creating the New Mexico Veteran's Museum Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs was signed by Governor Richardson in 2009.
Utilizing appropriated funds, RMKM architects of Albuquerque was contracted to design a 30,000 square foot building that is the cornerstone of a campus of veteran-oriented facilities, including an artifact management facility, a Veterans Services Center, a military-style parade grounds, a family picnic and playground area, walking trails, and, eventually, a memorial park.
The internationally acclaimed exhibit design firm Gallagher and Associates of Silver Spring, MD was hired to create an exhibit Master Plan. Working with the Departments of Veterans Services and Cultural Affairs, a team of experts in New Mexico history was brought together to determine the direction that the museum's
story should take.
The museum's focus will be twofold: First, it will pay tribute to New Mexico's veterans, past, present and future. Second, it will educate people of all ages about the service of New Mexicans throughout the world while it describes military installations and activities within the state, beginning as far back as the early 1500's.
Las Cruces area veterans are encouraged to be part of this important design process.