Santa Fe and Fort Bayard national cemeteries Director, Susan Parks, at right.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Since the redistricting of the national cemetery regions, Fort Bayard National Cemetery is now under the auspices of the Santa Fe National Cemetery director.

"I am the director of the Fort Bayard and Santa Fe National Cemeteries," Susan Parks introduced herself to veterans at the American Legion Post 18 Hall on College Ave.

"I am a Navy veteran," Parks said. "I want you to know that I appreciate every one of you."

She said her father, during World War II, helped clean up Pearl Harbor after the Japanese bombing. After he retired from the military, he was a Chicago policeman.

"When I graduated from high school, I wasn't ready to go to college," Parks said. "So I went into the Navy. The Navy was my father's family. I have a heart for veterans."

After her military service, she went to work for the Veterans Administration and then the Department of Defense.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to get to do what I do'manage the resting places for our heroes," Parks said.

"My goal is to have open communication with you," she continued. "I want you to reach out to me."

As a result of being told that it was difficult to put flags at the graves, she said she would see to it that "pigtails" were added to make it easier to place flags.

She said she has also petitioned the National Cemetery Association for a full-time position at Fort Bayard National Cemetery. The person would take care of services and do field work.

And what the veterans were waiting to hear: "We have a contract out to fix things at the cemetery. Work should start within three weeks. The contract did not award everything that needs to be done, but I have been assured that money has been budgeted for next fiscal year."

Parks also read from a letter that said 20 acres of state-owned land had been identified for expansion of Fort Bayard National Cemetery. Due diligence is being done with soil testing and environmental impact work to determine suitability.

"Once the current work on the cemetery is completed, Fort Bayard will have more sites and a completed columbarium. "I also squeezed in a tree contract by or before Nov. 1. Also, I cannot stand the signs going into the cemetery. They look handmade. I reached out to the Department of Transportation. They asked me to take photos, which I did. I would also like to see a sign out on the highway. It's the same in Santa Fe. (DOT) Secretary (Anthony) Foxx will join me in the efforts."

She asked the veterans to be her eyes and ears. "I'm a people person. And I want Fort Bayard National Cemetery to be a shrine."

Parks said several veterans and she have discussed having a committee, a Friends of the Cemetery Committee to oversee things at the cemetery and let her know what is happening. "I know you American Legion members and members of the Marine Corps League alternate for services at the cemetery. Have you worked together for a Friends of the Cemetery Committee? We could do a non-profit. Please see if anyone is interested. You each do amazing things. If you work together you can get even more amazing things done."

Melanie Goodman, representing Sen. Tom Udall's office asked about the tree contract. Parks explained it would be trimming them and taking care of them, so it looked neater at the cemetery.

Scott Terry, Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce director, asked about the additional land and the water situation.

Parks replied that the irrigation lines are lateral lines that can be tapped into. "We cannot put in turf until we have the irrigation fixed." She noted that no network for communication was available at the cemetery. "When we have that, then the lines of communication will be better."

Al Candelaria, American Legion finance officer, asked about the drainage systems. He explained that the drainage that had worked for many, many years was taken out by the contractor that left the job uncompleted, and that the drainage had to be taken care of before it destroyed parts of the cemetery. "There has been no one there to supervise the contractors. We need someone to hold the contractor responsible."

"I can promise you my hearts is with this cemetery," Parks said. "I will be the responsible party. This is not about me. It's about making this cemetery a shrine."

Tip Cowan asked if there were any way he could make sure that when he dies his memorial marker is in the same section as his son's.

Parks said no one is allowed to reserve spaces any more, "so I cannot guarantee it will happen. I can walk you through a pre-need assessment."

She noted that Cowan and his wife Mary are responsible for Wreaths Across America at Fort Bayard National Cemetery and that it is set for Dec. 17 this year.

Ray Davis, Post 18 commander, said the American Legion is responsible for Veterans Day this year. The Marine Corps League Detachment 1328 will also take part.

Parks asked if she could be on speakerphone during their planning meetings and they agreed she could.

When asked about the current part-time employee at the cemetery, she said Joe Trujillo is the supervisor, but he works also for the V.A. Clinic in Silver City and only is responsible for burial services at the cemetery.

"I can't just appoint him," Parks said. "We have to go through the whole process to get the position advertised. We have to look for the most qualified. This is a total reclassification of a job to cemetery technician. We had to let the union know and they have to sign off on it."

Candelaria asked why the cemetery is not allowed to stack double and triple burials in the same plot.

"The National Cemetery Association has traditional sites, which can hold up to six family members," Parks replied. "Pre-placed crypts allow two caskets and cremains. There is a crypt field at Fort Bayard that has not been signed off on. It is for eligible veterans and family members. Up to three are allowed in cremation plots. In the columbarium up to three can be put in the wall. I don't think we can change how the NCA buries. But we are always looking at green ways to improve things.

"I think it is a tremendous benefit given veterans to be buried in a national cemetery," Parks said."

Goodman said she is glad to have someone in the position to see that work is about to start up again. "We are aware that not everything will be done. Are we sure it is budgeted for next year?"

Parks said it was budgeted, but she didn't know for how much.

Candelaria said at a recent meeting on the cemetery construction the veterans were told that a maximum amount could be spent on a particular cemetery and that the Fort Bayard National Cemetery was near to that maximum.

She said, although she didn't know the answer to that question, that public perception is always important to the NCA. "Ray's letter made a difference. The NCA is aware of how the cemetery looks and doesn't want it to look that way. With the change in districting, it has changed how we're dealing with it."

Terry asked why the part-time person could not open the bathrooms during services.

"Everything is in the job description," Parks said. "Trujillo actually belongs to the clinic, where he is 90 percent of the time. He's only here for services. Once the position is filled, the bathrooms will be open."

Terry also asked about the concrete in the pavilion where the services are held. "The concrete is dangerous. Someone is going to trip and fall. Can we clean it up?"

"I will find out if it is part of the contract," Parks said. "I will reach out to the district today and find out what the plan is for the concrete."

Candelaria asked if the veterans form a Friends of the Cemetery Association, can it have things like that in the bylaws that it can fix dangerous things.

"We have bylaws that you can use to create yours," Parks said. "We don't expect you to do our job."

Terry pointed out that the job isn't being done.

"Three days into my job, I came to Fort Bayard and I took lots of pictures," Parks said. "I wanted to cry when I arrived. My leadership knows about it, too. We want the cemetery to be a place where veterans can go and get comfort."

"What can we do until the contractor starts?" Donohue asked.

Parks said one contractor is there now, doing the roads, mowing and excavating, interring and closing graves. "We don't want anyone to interfere in future work. I will err on the safety side, and say, please don't do anything."

Bradley Brock, New Mexico Department of Veterans Services field representative for Silver City and the region, noted that the contractor walked off the job more than two years ago. "Shame on us for not doing this ourselves."

He then talked about recent meetings with Santa Clara, which wants to annex Fort Bayard. "There was talk about a place for a veterans community, fixing the water to the houses, refurbishing the houses, a splash park, and RV park. Is the cemetery aware of the plan for Fort Bayard?"

Terry said Santa Clara has a business plan, including a buffer zone around the cemetery.

Parks said she was not going to try to defend the more than two years.

Joe Martinez, representing Congressman Steve Pearce, asked for Parks, when communicating with Davis, to CC him and Goodman. Goodman said she would also give Parks the information for Heinrich's representative.

"I want to get a fly-over for Veterans Day," Davis said. He sent off a letter to Kirtland Air Force Base requesting the fly-over, but was informed they are closed that day. He sent off to Holloman AFB and got the same reply. "Cannon will try to get us one."

Parks said on http://www.cem.va.gov, a section shows the burial benefits for veterans. "The funeral homes usually take care of the honors. I can't tell private businesses how to run, but the responsibility falls on the funeral home."

"My heart is with you, and my heart is with this cemetery," Parks concluded.