Ad
The sound of bagpipes filled the crisp morning air at Socorro’s Isidro Baca Park as community members gathered Saturday to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The annual Veterans Day ceremony opened with the National Anthem by Lefty Gonzales and an invocation by DaunMedaris, who offered a prayer of gratitude for those “who have served and sacrificed to protect us and our freedoms.”
“Freedom isn’t free,” Madaris said, invoking blessings for veterans and their families, and prayers for those still serving overseas.
The program, hosted by the City of Socorro, featured speeches from local and state leaders who paid tribute to veterans from every branch of the military—Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force—and recognized their continued service to community and country.
Mayor Ravi Bahsker, who enlisted in 1975, opened the remarks, welcoming veterans and families and reflected on immigrating to the United States and serving his country along with his brother and uncle.
“We want to thank you for your service, and we hope that the young people will continue to be veterans, and they need to show their allegiance to this country,” he said.
New Mexico State Treasurer Laura Montoya, the state’s first female and first Latina to hold the office, shared personal stories about her family’s military service and the generations of sacrifice it inspired.
“What I really wanted to share with you today is that I was brought up with some basic roots, the foundation of who we are as New Mexicans,” Montoya said. “You can agree that we were always raised to take care of our children, we had to take care of our elderly and our disabled, and we always respected and took care of our veterans.”
She spoke movingly about the families who support service members, calling them “caregivers who hold down the fort” while loved ones serve abroad. Montoya also highlighted efforts in her office to expand financial protections for veterans, including the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program, which allows veterans with disabilities to invest and save tax-free. Beginning Jan.1, she said, the eligibility age will expand from 26 to 46, making more veterans eligible.
State Representative Rebecca Dow followed with heartfelt thanks to those who “signed a blank check to the United States of America, payable up to and including their life.” Dow recognized veterans from conflicts ranging from Korea and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, and emphasized the importance of remembering the fallen while supporting the living.
“Your service didn’t end when you came home,” she said. “You continue to serve in your communities, and we are honored by your example.”
Ad
The ceremony concluded with an address by Manny Gonzales, retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major and CEO of Socorro Electric Cooperative. Gonzales, a 25-year Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, reminded the crowd of the true meaning of Veterans Day—and the ongoing struggles some veterans face.
“Every day, we still lose 17 veterans to suicide,” he said, adding that veterans rarely ask for what they need so, “My ask is that you continue to teach our children about what it means to be a veteran, to continue to serve others, even if it’s not through military service, to continue celebrating the sacrifice made by so many, and to continue keeping the voice of all veterans loud and clear so that they do not need to ask for anything, but instead they get what they deserve.”
Gonzales led the audience in a loud, unified “Hoo-rah!” to honor those who gave their lives and those who continue to serve.
As the flags rippled in the November wind and veterans stood proudly to the anthems of their respective branches, the message of the morning was clear: gratitude, remembrance, and community.
