MONTE VISTA— The city of Monte Vista came together over the weekend to pay tribute to its veterans. The annual Veterans Tribute and Parade was held through downtown and at the Faith Hinkley Memorial Park on Friday, Nov. 10.
After the presentation of the flags by the color guard and the singing of the national anthem by Ethan Reshke the ceremony opened with a welcome by Mayor Debbie Garcia.
“Every year this is getting bigger and bigger and it’s amazing to see everyone out here today. We’re here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievement and their dedication, to say thank you for the sacrifices. Some of these heroes join us in person and some are here only in spirit. We stand in the midst of patriots and the families and friends of those who have nobly served. The service members we honor today came from all walks of life. They share several fundamental qualities. They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity. All the qualities that are needed to serve a cause bigger than yourselves. We have awarded medals to many soldiers, named building and streets to honor their bravery, and we have added their names to monuments like they one we’re standing in front of today. Nothing can ever replace the hole that is left behind by a fallen soldier. No number of medals or ribbons can comfort those that are left behind. Our gathering here today is just one small way that we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom,” said Garcia.
After a prayer by Pastor Wayne Wittner of the First Christian Church and an Invocation by Father Stephen Injoaulu of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church the event was turned over to the guest speaker.
Lt. Colonel Patricia Robertson of the Air Force-New Mexico National Air Guard presented the keynote remarks.
Robertson enlisted in the air force on Dec. 12, 1984 at the age of 17. She entered active duty in June 1985 as an airspace ground equipment mechanic. She spent almost 10 years on active duty obtaining the rank of staff sergeant before joining the Airforce Reserve to attend nursing school. Robertson served five years with the Air Force Reserve. She was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1999 after receiving her BSN. She then joined the Wyoming National Guard until 2009. Robertson completed a masters in nursing becoming a nurse practitioner. Robertson is currently a nurse practitioner for the New Mexico Air National Guard. Robertson has seen multiple tours of duty including the Cold War, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Horn of Africa. Robertson plans on retiring from the air force this year. Robertson also works at the Rio Grande Hospital Clinic in Monte Vista as a family nurse practitioner.
“As I pondered what to say on this Veteran’s Day it intertwined with my thoughts as I approach retirement after 33 years of service in the Air Force. Many thoughts and emotions have run through my head as I end my career. I have worn the uniform for over three decades. When I joined in 1984 11 percent of the Air Force was female but only eight percent were females serving. Today 15 percent of our armed forces are female. That got me to thinking about why do people join today and why did I join. It got me thinking about what we sacrifice and what our biggest sacrifices are, and who sacrifices with those of who choose to serve,” said Robertson.
“First, I think we need to be clear about what a veteran is. Webster-Merriam defines a veteran as a person who has more experience in a particular field or a person who has served in the military. Synonyms are include old hand, old timer, old war horse, hardened or seasoned. Many of my young airmen are saying about that me right now.
Title 38 as the code of regulations defines a veteran as a person who served in the active military and who is discharged or released under conditions which are other than dishonorable. This does include guard and reserve. Notice, the definition does not give a length of time that someone has to serve.
Let’s consider when and why Veteran’s Day was established. It originated on Armistice Day on the 11th day on the 11th hour of the 11th month when the treaty was signed to end World War I...Congress passed a resolution and Nov. 11 because a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike memorial day which pays tribute to America’s fallen, Veteran’s Day pays tribute to all American Veterans living and dead, but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably war or peace time,” she said.
“People join the military because of family tradition, education, a chance to see the world, opportunity, a desire to serve their country, a desire to get out of their current situation. I joined for many of those reasons...I wanted to see the world and I have. I hoped for opportunities and there have been many...I am thankful I recognized opportunities and took them.
If you ask any veteran why they joined they will give you many. The common one, every single one of us who has ever worn is a desire to serve and protect our great nation.
There are governments, people and organizations that hate us. They hate what we stand for. They want to destroy us as a nation. Sept. 11 and all the attacks after demonstrate that hatred. But be it for the 0.4 percent of Americans who serve in the armed forces as the defenders of freedom, who stand at the ready 24/7 they would succeed…
Every single mission that every single person did that ever worn the uniform did had a person for ultimate purpose of keeping our country free. That is common thread that binds us all together as veterans…
Please honor our veterans who have sacrificed so much time by valuing the time we have and not taking it for granted. We aren’t promised tomorrow and we do not know when our time will end. Nothing is ever free including time and the American military member has paid the price for that,” stated Robertson.
After her keynote address the Civil Air Patrol read the names of 60 San Luis Valley veterans killed in action.
The ceremony continued with many local pastors offering prayers and the reading of scripture.
The ceremony was concluded by a performance of Taps by Brandi Quinn of Adams State University and invitation for community members to toll a bell in remembrance of any fallen loved ones.