Rio Rancho gives veterans and families a Memorial Day to remember

The city of Rio Rancho recognized Memorial Day with a powerful and emotional remembrance ceremony on Monday morning to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in military service to their country.

It was a Memorial Day to remember for many in the large crowd at Veterans Monument Park, which included friends and family of the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

The ceremony featured the laying of a wreath to honor the fallen and a 21-gun salute.

A set of military boots representing fallen service members from each branch were also on display. The boots were laid out in military formation and had a personalized portrait of a fallen veteran alongside each one. The boots representing fallen service members will be on display at the park as a temporary memorial.

Both the memorial ceremony and boot display were organized by Rio Rancho's Marine Corps League/Rocky Mountain Division, American Legion Post 118, VFW Post 5890, Women Veterans of New Mexico and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Many Rio Rancho and Sandoval County leaders were in attendance, including city councilors Bob Tyler and Nicole List, county commissioners Jay Block and Dave Heil, Rio Rancho Fire Chief James DeFilippo and state Rep. Alan Martinez.

The emotional ceremony featured poems, stories and songs.

City Councilor and Deputy Mayor Jeremy Lenentine, filling in for an under-the-weather Mayor Gregg Hull, read a resolution from the mayor, then closed the ceremony with powerful words about the history of Memorial Day and why it is so important for the future of America.

Lenentine emphasized the importance of remembering and honoring those who have made sacrifices for their country and properly educating future generations about their bravery.

“If we do not protect the good that we do, it will easily be undone in the future. How can we protect it for future generations? Well, I would submit, and we're currently doing just that,” Lenentine said. “You made the decision to be here on a Monday morning to listen to me and others tell you stories and poems and songs that are honoring and protecting a great sacrifice. We protect the good every time we educate our kids and grandkids about the rich history of duty and sacrifice that we share together.”

Lenentine spoke about the need to protect the freedoms gained through their sacrifices and to fix wrongs in the country, while warning against disconnecting celebrations from the somber remembrance of why we have those freedoms.

“What good is free if we don't celebrate it together? Memorial Day has a feel of family activities because we understand that so many brave young men and women have paid the ultimate price for us to use our freedoms today,” Lenentine said. “So as we celebrate today, we know that it's not disrespectful to do so; rather it's proper for us to use our freedoms as Americans to delight the just cause of our freedom.”