Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

On Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, about 200 people registered to participate in the Walk for the Heroes set up by Jason Quimby, Western New Mexico University veterans affairs officer.

People gathered in the parking lot between the Fine Arts Center Theater and the Juan Chacon Building to hear speakers and to register and prepare for the walk. In addition, folks at several informational tents stood ready to give veterans information. And perhaps the most important table was the food table, where runners and walkers could find something to eat after their exercise.

Two routes had been set up. One circled the WNMU campus, which was about 1 mile, and the second route was a 5K which took off from the same start-finish line but wended its way up onto Boston Hill before returning to the campus.

Grant County Treasurer Patrick Cohn served as emcee.

Among statistics given out, about 9.9 percent of Grant Countians have served in the military, with New Mexico having one of the highest rates of servitude to the military.

Several dignitaries, including NM gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti, Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner, and state Reps. Rebecca Dow and Luis Terrazas were in the audience and/or participated in the walk.

Thirty-three names of veterans being honored by their family members covered the back of the T-shirts that runners and walkers received. Sixty-eight signs with veterans' names marked corners and directions for the walk and run.

Some walkers ran carrying photos of their honored veterans; some walked with an American flag held high; and a few participated with up to 40-pound rucksacks on their backs.

Everyone who completed the walk/run received a Challenge coin

Following the run/walk, performers entertained the gathered folks.

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