Rio Rancho honors servicemen and women with Veterans Day parade, ceremony

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho got excited Tuesday about the faces behind the world’s greatest fighting force.

Spectators cheered and applauded at the city’s Veterans Day parade and ceremony as they watched the steady march of military officers and the hum of their armored vehicles. Their faces lit up when they saw vintage cars and trucks that pulled children who threw out candy.

“Thank you for your service!” one young girl said as she handed some sweet treats to a U.S. Navy veteran and his family.

Those were just some of the sights and sounds of the parade that slowly descended Southern Boulevard between Country Club Drive and Pinetree Road.

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Verne Lucero rode down the parade route in his disability sport scooter, which was decked out in American flags. In a small basket between the handlebars was his service dog, Chulita, a chihuahua mix.

To him, Veterans Day, in part, means “love of country — and I think that’s so important nowadays.”

Following the festivities was a solemn ceremony at nearby Veterans Monument Park.

The gathering was where Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull issued a proclamation for Veterans Day and another for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military.

Hull praised veterans who “fought for our freedoms — the very freedoms we are enjoying right this minute.”

“We are truly, truly blessed,” the mayor said, before asking all the military members to stand and be recognized.

PHOTOS: 2025 Rio Rancho Veterans Day parade and ceremony

But there was so much more to the ceremony than mere formalities, including the singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the marching of the color guard. Both active-duty military personnel and veterans spoke, too.

Major Tony Ramirez of the New Mexico National Guard said that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks inspired him to serve his country. He was touched that the police officers and firefighters who “were standing there moments ago” did not return home.

“That’s true heroism,” Ramirez said. “They’re the home team; we’re away. We all share that common bond (of a) great love of this nation and this country.”

He also spoke of another common bond: military families.

“Without our spouses, our children, our nieces and our nephews, we wouldn’t have the internal strength to keep going when things get really difficult,” Ramirez said. “And trust me, they do.”

He also used his remarks to welcome all veterans home.

Following Ramirez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Rio Ranchoan Michael Haas read his original poem, “Thank you for your service.” The rhyme suggested that it is not only veterans who deserve thanks, but families, too.

“The next time you hear those thoughtful words — ‘Thank you for your service’ — think of your family and those keeping the burgs. They stood in the shadows and also deserved this,” Haas read.

Following the ceremony, Haas said that the master of ceremonies, Adrian Glass, asked him to write a poem focused on military families.

“I’ve been doing this since I was a boy,” Haas said. “Anytime something hits me, I write about it.”

He said he noticed the audience was attentive and “maybe contemplating (the poem’s message) on their own.”

For Haas, the ceremony is “a culmination” of the work of all military services and veterans. He called this year’s ceremony “very special” because it focused on families.

Asked what it meant for other people to celebrate his military service, Haas laughed.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” he said, “because it’s not about me; it’s about an entire family.”