Top two photos courtesy of Mark Erickson
First one on Saturday for the Wreaths Across America ceremony.
The second on Saturday are wreaths for presentation.
Article and slideshow photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Wreaths Across America Fort Bayard 2015
Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
A snow-dusted wreath brings remembrance of a veteran.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Members of Girl Scout Troop 834, squint in the sunlight and hand out programs. From left are Eleanor Paavola, 8, Nysse Rivera, 7, Iris Rivera, 9, and membership chairwoman Annette Toney.-?`^
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Marine Corps League Detachment 1328 member George Morrison posts and salutes the American flag.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Marine Leonard Pritikin leads the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Veteran Robert Lopez is one of two speakers.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
The second featured speaker was Danna Lopez.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Jim Zawacki of VFW Post 3347 served as master of ceremonies.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Tip Cowan has just laid a wreath for members of the U.S. Army
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Marine Corps League Detachment 1328 member Marc MacDonald lays a wreath for Marines.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Veteran Luis Montenegro prepares to lay a wreath for members of the U.S. Navy.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Terry Kline lays a wreath for the U.S. Coast Guard
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Cliff Tavernier lays a wreath for the Air Force.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Debbie Root has just laid a wreath for the Merchant Marines
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Dr. John Bell lays a wreath for those buried at Fort Bayard.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Cecilia Bell lays a wreath for the U.S. Medical Corps and Nurses Corps members who served at Fort Bayard.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Hi Lo Silvers sing at Wreaths Across America
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Marine Richard Erwin Jr. play Taps
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Wreaths Across America Fort Bayard organizer Mary Cowan thanks her committee.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
Mary and Tip Cowan stand on either side of the Wreaths Across America banner.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
The Veterans Van from Las Cruces was on hand to help out veterans.
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Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard 2015
A wreath graces an early Fort Bayard grave.
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After snow had fallen to grace the wreaths on 2,079 graves at Fort Bayard National Cemetery and before the high winds began, people gathered to honor veterans for Wreaths Across America.
With the sun going in and out of clouds, on a chilly morning, Jim Zawacki of the Silver City-Bayard VFW Post 3347 served as master of ceremonies.
"In this 2015 Wreaths Across America, we remember and honor all our veterans," Zawacki said. "The first year, we had 40-60 wreaths adorning the graves. In 2012, we had 567; in 2013, 1004; in 2014, 1755; and this year, 2,079. We thank the more than 400 organizations, individuals and families who made this possible."
George Morrison of the Gaffney-Oglesby Marine Corps League Detachment 1328 posted the American Flag.
Marine Leonard Pritikin led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, just before the Hi Lo Silvers, led by Valdeen Wooton, sang the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The featured speakers were veterans Robert Lopez and his wife, Danna.
"We remember and honor those who have fallen, and those who have served and serve today," Robert Lopez said. "We must teach future generations to be patriots. We must keep up with the remembering, honoring and teaching. We keep the history of the past alive with the present.
"American has different colors, different races, different religions, but true Americans will protect our country," he continued. "Serving is an honor and a privilege. In service, we have learned the core values of our nations. I say every veteran is a member of the Greatest Generation. Freedoms are not free; they are earned."
"We remember the almost 5,000 who lie here," Danna Lopez said. "We are responsible to pass on what these veterans gave for our country. If not for our first patriots, we would not have the freedoms they gained for us. We have prospered under the banner of freedom. It is also incumbent upon us to honor these fallen heroes that lie here and their sacrifice on our behalf.
"We teach children to emulate celebrities and athletes," she continued, "but we fail to teach them about the greatest heroes who lie here. We have failed to pass on the true legacy of our veterans. Each of these headstones marks those who held the same tenets as our greatest political leaders.
"As President Ronald Reagan said: 'Freedom is but one generation away from extinction,'" Danna Lopez quoted. "We must teach values and virtues every day. The flag does not fly because of the wind, but because of the last breath of every veteran. Remember their loyalty; honor their sacrifice; teach their love."
Zawacki said: "Our nation was founded on the values of freedom, justice and equality. It shines as a beacon of liberty. We thank those who gave their ultimate. Today, we show the nation a day of unity across America."
Next came the laying of wreaths: Army, Tip Cowan; Marine Corps, Marc MacDonald; Navy, Luis Montenegro; Air Force, Cliff Tavernier; Coast Guard, Terry Cline; Merchant Marines, Debbie Root; POW/MIA, Damian Martinez; soldiers buried at Fort Bayard, Dr. John Bell of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society; and Medical Corps and US Nurses Corps members, who served at Fort Bayard, Cecilia Bell of FBHPS.
Wooton said every song written has verses that the author wanted sung, so the Hi Lo Silvers sang all four verses of "America, the Beautiful."
Zawacki asked everyone to visit a grave, write down the name and research that veteran on the Internet, to better understand those who served and lie at Fort Bayard.
"Thank you to Girl Scouts Troop 834, for handing out programs; to the officers of the Marine Corps League Detachment; the VFW and auxiliary; Wooton and the Hi Lo Silvers; the Tyrone Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department; and all those who presented and laid wreaths," Zawacki said. "Thanks go to Connie Zawacki for designing and creating the program. We regret any errors or omissions."
"A huge thank you to all of you for attending," he said.
"And most important, we need to recognize the director of this effort, Gold Star Mother, Mary Cowan, and her committee," Zawacki said.
"Thanks to my committee," Cowan said. "We held five meetings to get this job done and to all those who came out yesterday (Friday, Dec. 11) to lay the wreaths."
Marine Richard "Cos" Erwin, Jr. played Taps to end the ceremony.