Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Each year, the Walk for the Heroes, which was started by Mike and Liz Lopez with a walk to Deming from Hurley, continues. For a time, it was based at Western New Mexico University, with a couple of different routes for walkers. The past two years, it has taken place, with a start  at theVeterans' Memorial at Bataan Park to begin a 3-mile walk that goes into Fort Bayard National Monument,, including a route around the outer edge of the Fort Bayard National Cemetery, and a finish back at the Veterans Memorial. 

Some participants ran the 3 miles, but the majority walked the route.

Dina Madrid of live-streaming KDNA Radio SW NM, did a lot of the announcing during the event. A Veterans Coalition Color Guard began the ceremony before the whistle to start the race.

A.J. Bolton came in first and received a flag from Sheriff Raul Villanueva.  The first veteran to finish the race was Dr. Davies of WNMU, who received a Quilt of Valor. 

The purpose of the walk is to honor all veterans, living and deceased. A major portion of the event occurs after everyone has returned. They are fed and then the presentation of plaques, requested by families to honor their loved ones. Sponsors pay for the plaques and families receive them, often with tears in their eyes. 

This year, 46 were honored with plaques,  which were distributed by some of the sponsors, including Luis Terrazas, whose funeral chapels sponsored  plaques. Sen. Gabriel Ramos  also presented plaques, as did Sylvia Sierra, the area Veterans Affairs representative, located at WNMU. Other presenters included Diane LeBlanc, retired Navy Captain and member of the Marine Corps League Detachment 1328, and speaker Raul Turrieta, who has participated in the walk each year. Miss New Mexico Taylor McWhorter also attended and participated.

At the very end of the event, Terrazas and Ramos presented a large check with $10,000 to Mike and Liz Lopez and their team to keep the event going. The state Representative and senator joined together to get legislative GRO funds for the committee in order to pay for costs that recur each year with the event. The money is good for two years.

The list of plaque recipients is attached, as is the list of sponsors, followed by the  photos of runners, walkers, speakers, plaque presenters and recipients.

To pause the slide show, mouse over the image.