The Chronicles Of Grant County
Veterans Day
2026
(The image was provided courtesy of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, 2026.)
Today is Veterans Day.
At 12:11 PM (local time in New Mexico), people throughout Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties are encouraged to spend two minutes in silence.
To use that silence to remember and recall the service of the men and women who have donned the uniform of our country to protect our nation.
To use that silence to think of ways that each one of us could thank the men and women who have served in the United States military in the past.
“Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime,” according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. “In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.”
According to the Federal government, as of September 30, 2026, there were an estimated 417 military veterans in Catron County, 2,131 military veterans in Grant County, 257 military veterans in Hidalgo County, and 1,361 military veterans in Luna County.
The Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act, according to the United States Congress, requires that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe a two-minute national moment of silence on Veterans Day at 3:11 PM Atlantic standard time, 2:11 PM Eastern standard time, 1:11 PM Central standard time, 12:11 PM Mountain standard time, 11:11 AM Pacific standard time, 10:11 AM Alaska standard time, and 9:11 AM Hawaii-Aleutian standard time.”
Please thank each of the estimated 4,166 military veterans in Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna Counties.
In the past year, an estimated 124 military veterans died in the four counties in Southwest New Mexico.
While Veterans Day is the day explicitly designated to recognize the service of the men and women who have served our country – Armed Forces Day in May is the day explicitly designated to honor those men and women serving active-duty in the United States military – it is appropriate to also recognize – throughout the year – those among us who are on active-duty.
Please reflect on the men and women who are currently serving the United States of America in places from Bahrain and the United Kingdom to Japan and at Fort Bliss in New Mexico and Texas.
We thank you all for your service in our name.
Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?
A street name? A building?
Your questions may be used in a future news column.
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© 2026 Richard McDonough
