Visiting the Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park

Powerful.

Moving.

Humbling.

These are but a few of the words to describe the City of Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park. Dedicated on May 5th, 1999.  The park was a cooperative effort by the city and the Las Cruces Home Builders Association in conjunction with the Veterans Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Built to honor and memorialize the men and women who served, fought, and died for our country.  Particularly, those from Dona Ana County and the Las Cruces area. 

The park is organized and guided by a trail that leads visitors through the monuments placed around the park.  The center of the park is an 80-foot tall flagpole designed to hoist a Garrison Flag on special occasions and holidays.  The Garrison Flag is a 240 square foot flag (12’ x 20’) which came about during the War of 1812.  When the people of Baltimore were expecting a British attack, Major George Armistead wanted “a flag so large the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance”. The Garrison Flag has inspired many Americans, including Francis Scott Key. When he saw that our flag was still there, he wrote The Star-Spangled Banner.  A smaller flag is flown on other days.  The public is invited to help veterans raise and lower the garrison flag on days when it is scheduled to be flown.

Surrounding the flagpole is the Veterans Memorial Wall. A wall with plaques containing 8,188 names.  Each name is a veteran that entered service from Dona Ana County, New Mexico. Names span from the Civil War up to, and including Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Following along the path, you come to the Korean War Memorial.  A light grey stone with a depiction of the Korean Penisula divided at the 38th parallel. And a reminder that “Freedom is not free”. Inscribed on the back of the stone is the sobering list of New Mexico’s Korean War deaths. Beside the stone is the silhouette of an unnamed soldier kneeling and mourning a fallen comrade. As part of the Korean Memorial is a stone shaped as the castle of the US Army Corps of Engineers. This commemorates the 2nd Engineer Battalion’s participation and heavy losses in the Battle of Kung-ri.  In November of 1950, facing an overwhelming Chinese force of over 400,000, elements of the 2d Engineers helped to fill gaps in UN defensive lines to cover the withdrawal of the US Eighth Army.  After three days of intensive fighting, the 2d Engineers became the only unit left to oppose the Chinese force.  When their escape route was cut off, the Commander ordered all functioning equipment destroyed and the Battalion colors (streamers and all) to be set ablaze. His intention, to deny the enemy a coveted war trophy. I urge you to stand quietly here for a moment in reverence to the sacrifice of these brave men. Embedded in the stone are two gold Challenge coins. These are to honor Army Chaplain CPT Emil J. Kapaun. One of only 6 Chaplains to earn the Medal of Honor.

Further on, is the Bataan Death March Memorial. Featuring three large bronze statues of American and Filipino soldiers supporting each other as they walk over 80 miles in 6 days to a Japanese Prisoner of War camp.  One soldier looks over his soldier as if to reflect on how far they’ve come, but knowing how far they must still go.  Footprints are in the cement, made by surviving members of the actual March. e Symbolizing how many started vs.how many survived, there are more footprints on the back side of the monument as in front. The memorial was dedicated on April 13, 2012. Sixty years after the lethal march that took the lives of 5,000 to 10,000 people. Las Cruces annually holds a 26 mile march on White Sands Missile Range in memory.

Under construction and due to be completed soon is a memorial dedicated to Women in the Military. Six life-sized, bronze statues depicting the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, and the Navy.  Each uniform depicts a different era. The Cold War. The Korean War. Viet Nam. World War I & II, and the modern era.   Unfortunately, it wasn’t complete during our visit, but I look forward to returning to see it.

The Marine Corps League received a monument specifically to honor past, present, and future Marines.  The three sided, rotating sculpture of the Marine emblem (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor). Along the bottom are some of the titles earned over the years and slang.  My personal favorite, “Since 1775, Uncommon Valor has been a Common Virtue. United States Marine Corps”.

The memorial for the Vietnam War states a sad truth. Vietnam War Memorial: Heroes Never Thanked. Too many veterans returned from a war they had no choice to fight to a country that villainized them for it. Below the title is a collage of those who fought from the New Mexico area. To the left and right are placards describing the advancements and roles of each branch during this time period. Hovering above it all is a Vietnam era Huey helicopter. Positioned as if coming in for a landing, emblazoned with the Red Cross, you can imagine the welcome site this would be to a wounded soldier.

In every town we visit, one must is stopping at the Veterans Memorials to pay respect to those who have fought and served in defense of our country. It’s a solemn, quiet reflection on what Service Before Self means. Putting serving our country above oneself. We’ve seen many memorials. All of which have been well done and pay respect. But the City of Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park is one of the best I’ve seen.

Read more about visiting Las Cruces here.