Alamogordo,
Apr 3, 2004 -
Though it’s been a long time in the making, Alamogordo’s Airborne Veterans finally have a monument they can call their own.
In a ceremony Saturday morning, Armando Quinones Sr., himself an Airborne vet, along with city Mayor Don Carroll, Commissioner Don Cooper, Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Griggs, Rep. Gloria Vaughn and others, opened the monument and dedicated the bronze plaque naming Alamogordo’s Airborne Veterans.
Veterans young and old, from all branches of the United States armed forces packed the site of the monument at 10th Street and White Sands Boulevard for the dedication. Most came out of respect for the men who served.
“I came to honor these gentlemen that sacrificed quite a bit,” said Brad Shelton, retired U.S. Air Force B-52 radar navigator from 1963-1983.
Others came because they could not stay away.
“I came just for the dedication,” said Manny Hernandez. “Just to see all my comrades. It’s about time they got recognized.”
Also present for the ceremony was White Sands Missile Range Garrison Commander Col. Don Gentry who brought with him members of the 28th Airborne Corps Artillery and the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, commanded by Col. Mike Schneider. Rep. Steve Pearce was also present in spirit through his representative Luis Ortega.
The day began overcast and cool, and many attendees got their feet a little muddy, but by the time the invocation was said by Pastor Naya Benitez, the sun had begun to shine, casting its warm glow over the ceremony.
The dedication focused on a national record held by a small area of Alamogordo called “Chihuahita.”
This area, approximately 1/4 of a square mile, has produced 56 paratroopers, a fact which has been verified by the Pentagon. In addition, two more paratroopers who are now serving in Iraq have come from the area.
Out of that same neighborhood have come between 780 and 800 enlisted personnel in the U.S. armed forces dating from the Spanish American War in 1898.
Honored during the ceremonies were many members of the Airborne.
Among them was the oldest living Airborne veteran in Alamogordo, Raymond Montgomery, who parachuted into the Rhine Valley in Germany and on one occasion was stuck in a tree when his parachute became entangled while enemy forces fired at him from below.
In honor of those who had passed away, either during wartime or of their injuries following their service, a lone horn from the 62nd Army Band Brass Quintet played “Taps.” Many bowed their heads, remembering those fallen men.
At the end of the ceremony, members of the Airborne Veterans Association pulled down a parachute which had covered the names of those on the bronze plaque. They then raised flags at the memorial site.
According to Quinones, more plaques will be placed at the memorial in the future commemorating all those from Chihuahita who served in the military, whatever branch they served in. The plaques are currently being created.
Because of bad weather up north, the event’s keynote speaker, New Mexico Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Garcia was late. Local resident Sat Noriega stepped in for Garcia at the last minute.
When he did arrive, Garcia, who served in the U.S. Army in the 4th Infantry Division during Vietnam, joked: “If I’d been with the Airborne, I’d have been here sooner.”
At the end of his speech, Garcia reminded the youth of Alamogordo to be proud of those who had served in the past.
“The history of Alamogordo,” Garcia said, “is a legacy of honor.”
