Roswell Web Magazine: News

MEMORIAL DAY

Observed Monday, May 29 ~ Armed Forces Day, Sat. May 20

This 19th issue of Roswell Web Magazine is dedicated to all branches of our military serving now and in the past. It is especially dedicated to those who risked life and limb in times of war and in times of peace to aid or protect their country and its ideals of rights and freedoms that the United States of America represents everywhere in the world.

(above & below photos by Jan Girand)

The Chaves County War Memorial and the Blue Star Memorial (left) stand in front of the Chaves County Administration Center, Joseph R. Skeen Building, at No. 1 St. Mary's Place, Roswell, New Mexico. It was completed and dedicated on Memorial Day, May 27, 2002. This War Memorial honors veterans of all wars, with inscribed names of local servicemen who died in combat. The three who have died in Iraq will be added. (Photo by Jan Girand)

This Moving Wall (right), one of several smaller replicas, was created to reach those in outlying areas unable to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. The Moving Walls have constantly toured the country for more than 20 years. The Moving Wall is nearly half-size of the original stationary one in Washington DC. That one is polished granite, 493.5 feet long, 10.2 feet high in the center or vortex. On the wall are more than 58,000 names, including prisoner-of-war (POW) and missing-in-action (MIA). Hundreds of names are still being added. Throughout its stay in Roswell, 24-hours-a-day local Vietnam veterans and Army National Guardsmen stood guard and assisted visitors in finding the names of their fallen comrades and loved ones. (Photo by Jan Girand)

These flags (below) flew over the dedicated Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall that came to Roswell June 10 through June 17, 2002: the American Flag (center), the black MIA~POW flag and the State of New Mexico flag. This photo perspective does not show it, but when flown with others, the American Flag is always flown at the highest position. (Photo by Jan Girand)

In New Mexico, thoughts of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action always bring to mind the brave defenders of the Philippines and Bataan during World War II. A small band of New Mexico National Guardsmen of the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment had been sent to the Philippines just before World War II. There, at the Fall of Bataan, they were captured. Those who survived what became known as the Bataan Death March, were taken prisoner and kept for years in horrid Japanese POW camps where many more died. The number of New Mexico's, and America's, World War II survivors grow smaller every day.

This brave "One Regiment Against Japan, 1941-1945" was immortalized by author Dorothy Cave in her book: BEYOND COURAGE. These men, her husband Jack Aldrich included, and Cave's book were further honored by Steve Melillo of Virginia in his awesome production, BEYOND COURAGE, THE MUSICAL. Melillo presented his world-premier in Roswell 2-1/2 years ago, with a cast that included local talent, as well as that brought with him from Virginia.