Memorial Day

Bob Dylan once asked: How many roads must a man walk down, Before you call him a man ?
Today we ask:  How many times does a man go to war before you call him an American?

Since before we became a state, New Mexico's Hispanic soldiers have answered the call to duty, The New Mexico National Guard, which included a high percentage of Hispanics, suffered through the Bataan Death March. Then as POW's they were treated brutally and without humanity by their Japanese captors. Of the 2,000 or so New Mexico Guardsmen in the Phillipines when World War II started, barely half returned home.  During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, New Mexico's Hispanic towns and villages sent thousands of young men to fight, paying a price that was way out of proportion with their populations. Over the course of recent American history, Hispanic  citizens and soldiers alike, have done all that has been asked of them "Lest we forget, this day is set aside to remind us"

 

Memorial Day
The call to duty is never refused, you need not ask, for we will fight
if the flag falls  pick it up, if the tide turns stand your ground
until the guns grow silent and peace returns us to our homes
white marble slabs mark the stone gardens
mortal remains planted in their native soils
look across yonder and always....always remember
that the entry fee is paid for with blood and honor
in service we stride into the fields of combat
in battle only your brothers stand next to you
and on his behalf, no sacrifice too small, no price too high
in the eyes of our enemies there are no distinctions
We are all Americans, they know of our willingness to fight
America is great because her soldiers are great
lest we forget, this day is set aside to remind us