Jan 29, 2008 was a cold and icy day in Santa Fe, NM but veterans found a warm welcome at the Capitol Round House. This day was considered New Mexico Legislative Veterans' Day when veterans have the opportunity to present issues to the legislature. The NM Department of Veteran Services with the coordinating efforts of Jessie A. Ansures, the Legislative Liaison for DAV Chapter 3, ensured the events were well attended by many representatives and a strong showing of veterans. Up to 300 veterans made the icy trip to the capital from across the state arriving in cars, vans, trucks, and three bus loads.
The day was set aside as a veteran organization “commanders conference” which was to highlight the recently formed Black Veterans Association of New Mexico who proposed a bill to fund a monument to Buffalo Soldiers' contribution to American. There was a public flag raising ceremony in the morning and a more private forum. In the afternoon, State Treasurer, James B. Lewis, a Viet Nam Army veteran who comes from a long family history of veterans was the keynote speaker, and Senator Carlos Cisneros, who sponsored House Bill 55 to build a life-size monument to honor Buffalo soldiers, announced that the Bill had been approved by the Senate for $100K as seed money to start the effort.
Ron Edwards, a Marine veteran, was commissioned in 2007 by John Garcia, State Secretary of Department of Veteran Services, to write and produce a song to raise awareness of the homeless veteran issue. During the flag raising ceremony, Edwards sang a clip of the song, “You Have Forgotten Me” and made an impassioned plea that the homeless veterans not be forgotten by our legislative representatives or our citizens.
After the flag raising ceremony, several veterans of our community were honored as American heroes in the State Senate and House Chambers to include the commanders of 13 different veteran organizations. Specifically, Douglas Craft was recognized in the House, andDr. Darlene Collins and John Lewis were recognized as special guests of Senator Bill Payne in the Senate. Craft, an Army Gulf War veteran and the State Commander of the Black Veteran Association of New Mexico (BVANM), was recognized for his military service, his success as head of an expanding New Mexico cleaning and maintenance business, and was appointed as emcee to oversee the rest of the day's program activities. Dr. Collins was recognized for being a Desert Storm Air Force veteran and State Vice Commander of the BVANM, and acknowledged for her educational accomplishments and her expertise as a small business owner of a business growth consulting firm. Lewis, an Army Retired Gulf War veteran was recognized for his long and dedicated service to our country, as well as his recent successful efforts as Legislative Liaison for the BVANM.
Commander Craft gave a few short remarks and introduced the Buffalo Soldiers. Van Sanders, President of the Buffalo Soldiers Society of New Mexico, presided over the Buffalo Soldiers conducting the flag ceremonies.
The Black Veteran Association is now well underway to provide ongoing service to homeless veterans. They will need your help to support their efforts by becoming members (veterans and family members of veterans), making donations, or volunteering to assist with various events as announced throughout the year. You can find out more about the BVANM by visiting their website: http://www.blackvetassociation.org/.