The Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society will hold its annual membership dinner and program on Saturday evening, January 18 at the Cross Point Church in Silver City. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner following at 6:30.

Special guests will include local journalist and author Mary Alice Murphy, who will be recognized for her work in documenting the experiences of local World War II veterans, in her book “God’s Umbrella”. The Society will throughout the year be commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, and will offer special recognition to local veterans of that conflict. 

In connection with that commemoration, the winter film series, which kicks off on January 9 at the Santa Clara Armory, will feature classic films dealing with World War II.

The keynote speaker for the dinner program will be Southwest historian Doug Hocking, whose talk will center on his newest book, “Terror on the Santa Fe Trail: Kit Carson and the Jicarilla Apache”.  Mr. Hocking has been awarded the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, and the Co-founders Award and Danielson Award from Westerners International.

To make dinner reservations, interested parties should contact Dr. John Bell at 575-574-2573. For more information on the Society or the program, call Dr. Doug Dinwiddie at 575-388-4862.