Vietnam Veterans Memorial unveiled in Grants ceremony

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — It contains only five names. But the Grants Vietnam Veterans Memorial is every bit as "awesome, beautiful, classy and gorgeous" as its big brother in Washington, D.C.

Two different speakers used those words to describe the memorial during its dedication Friday morning.

The privately-funded memorial in tiny Friendship Park on the west side of Grants if for "Our Cibola County sons who gave all."The five are:

• Lance Corporal Pat Salazar,
• Sgt. Jose Montoya,
• Specialist 4th Class Gerald Chino,
• Spc4 David Crawford,
• Private First Class Albert Curley.

Master of ceremonies Milo Garcia described the memorial as "awesome" and "beautiful" before a crowd of about 600 people, including 250 motorcycle riders making their annual cross-country Run For the Wall, which ends every Memorial Day at the national memorial in Washington, D.C.

Featured speakers included Harry and Marie Garcia, who received credit for conceiving and executing the idea, New Mexico's first cabinet-level Veterans Affairs Department Secretary, John Garcia, and Gov. Bill Richardson.

Richardson highlighted that the monument was built without government money, but if any enhancements are needed he guaranteed the state would help.

The governor said, "This is the time when we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But we also honor a community and we honor the Garcias for making this happen, this wonderful monument, this classy, gorgeous recognition of America's Vietnam War. But what's very important here is... this was done with private funds." He also recognized the five families.

The five Cibola County fallen veterans, whom he named, "... symbolize New Mexico Native American, Hispanic, Anglo, the microcosm of our state. They gave everything for our country." He added the community deserves recognition, too, for its accomplishment.

Vietnam veterans are beginning to receive the respect they deserve, he said, in a country in which New Mexico had the 3rd highest casualty rate in that war. Richardson also bragged that the state was the first in the country to build a Vietnam memorial, at Angel Fire. The state has committed $5 million for veterans memorials, he added.

Richardson pointed out 22 New Mexicans have been killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, with 1,500 on duty there. He asked for a moment of silent prayer"for their safe return."

Secretary Garcia, like a good chief bureaucrat, rattled off a list of numbers, such as 185,000 veterans of which 26,000 are women in the state and the 15,000 Indians "God Bless our Native Americans for what they have done for this country." As he spoke, an Apache helicopter made the first of its five passes in its flyover for the memorial.

The secretary quoted Robert Frost about taking the less traveled fork in a road to make a difference. "You, the Vietnam veterans, took that road and it has made a difference in this country. Patriotism is alive because of you," he said. "You have made sure this country does not forget the sacrifices of the men and women who have worn the American uniform."

Also a Vietnam veteran, he noted 75,000 were severely disabled with about one-third 100 percent disabled. Of those killed, 240 won the Congressional Medal of Honor and 61 percent of them were younger than 21 years.

He closed with a prayer which concluded, "Welcome home, brothers."

Harry Garcia, a Vietnam veteran who saw several Vietnam memorials during repeated participation in the annual biker runs from the Pacific to Atlantic oceans, gave the briefest speech. He said, "Thank you for being here. This is built for all of you. That's all I can say."

His wife, Marie, spoke in a voice broken with emotion because "all gave some; some gave all," which is inscribed on the marble slabs etched by Hugh Sheldrick of Lasting Memories of Milan. She reviewed the list of donors and started with Sheldrick and his wife, Pat Long, who donated the marble, Raymond and Mary Lou Savedra, "who stood by our sides," and Nathan Gutherie, "who actually built this."

The emcee then called her back to the podium to receive a stunning rounded-top wedge-shaped glass plaque mounted on two black pedestals, with a message from her husband etched into the glass thanking her for her support.

At the monument, one slab notes, "God Bless Them" for "All Gave Some; Some Gave All" from "1959-1975." Another slab says, "Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Grants, NM, honoring the 58,249 KIA as of August 1, 2005." The two stones flank the central rectangular stone with the five names. Those three pedestals stand in front of a low arched wall whose slanted top holds the bronze emblems of the five U.S. military services. Five tall black flag poles are evenly spaced at the wall and flew the Stars and Stripes flanked on each side by a pair of the black and white (You Are Not Forgotten) POW-MIA and yellow and red New Mexico state flags. The pebble-paved concourse surrounded by green turf is lighted.

For the event, small American and POW-MIA flags were planted at the edge of the sidewalk on Santa Fe Avenue. The eastbound lanes of the boulevard (Route 66) were blocked to form a giant 125-yard long parking lot for the 250 Run To The Wall motorcycles led by a police-style vanguard with the American flag's red and white stripes waving straight in the breeze. Traffic was reduced to one lane each direction, using the westbound avenue.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cell).