The Community Youth Choir, which was formed by Western New Mexico University and Theater Group New Mexico held it premiere performance Friday evening at the Fine Arts Center Theatre on the WNMU campus.

Directed by Antonio Zapata, the young singers performed four patriotic songs in in a tribute to "our nation's veterans." They were accompanied on piano by Juliane Horvath.

The group was formed in September. To kick off the performance, the Marine Corps League Gaffney-Oglesby Detarchment 1328 posted the colors and retired them at the end.

The youths sang "Armed Forces The Pride of America!", a medley of the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force official songs, as well as a sung version of the Pledge of Allegiance, ending with "The Star-Spangled Banner."

They also performed "My America," "America for Me, which included a sing-along of "America, the Beautifu," and "I Love That Grand Old Flag," which incorporated a sing-along of "You're a Grand Old Flag."

Zapata introduced each song, and before the performance recognized veterans in the audience.

The program thanked all U.S. servicemen and women on duty around the world.

Members of the group include, in alphabetical order, Delany Acosta, Isabel Anderson, Haley Baxter, Abbey Carter, Mike Chu, Yen Chu, Milagre Coats, Taylor Collins, Poppy Dames, Erin Davis, Dustin Franco, Alyssia Goss, Asia Goss, Saliana Goss, Emily Heidenfeld, Travis Huffman, Ryanne Larisch, Samantha Larisch, Kylia Lozano, Brianna Martinez, Molly Parra, Merrit Peterson, Selby Rigtrup, Selena Rodriguez, Jaden Skye Rubio, Kailey Ryan, Echo Smalley, Luz Angelica Tirado, Michael Torrez, Alexis Vasquez, Anahi Venegas, Kaitlynne Ware, Cyrus West and Audrey Young.