Soldiers and Airmen of the New Mexico Army and Air National Guard provided a joint color guard. Retired Coast Guard LCDR Marilyn Dykman sang the national anthem. NMARNG State Chaplain (COL) Elmon Krupnik provided the invocation and benediction. DVS Cabinet Secretary Judy Griego spoke first. Griego retired from the New Mexico Air National Guard as a brigadier general, the first woman to rise to that rank from within the NMNG. MG Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, spoke next. U.S. Army CPL Manuel Martinez provided the keynote speech. Martinez related his experiences as a POW during the Korean War and received a standing ovation. NMANG MSgt Jessica Lamb attended to the POW/MIA Table (also known as a salt table) as Romero read the narrative near the end of the ceremony. The American Gold Star Mothers, Civil Air Patrol, VFW, AARP, CNM Veteran Resource Center, and other organizations joined the NMNG and DVS in manning information booths at the two entrances to the rotunda. NMNG booths included the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Office of the State Surgeon, Enlisted Association, Air National Guard, Counterdrug Program, Transition Assistance, Family Support Programs, ESGR, and the Enlisted Association Auxiliary. New Mexico has 12 state legislators who are military veterans: Rep. Eliseo Alcon, U.S. Army; Rep. Randal Crowder, U.S. Army; Rep. Henry Garcia, U.S. Marine Corps; Rep. Rodolfo Martinez, U.S. Air Force; Rep. Debra Sariñana, U.S. Air Force; Rep. Jim Trujillo, U.S. Army; Sen. Gregory Baca, U.S. Navy; Sen. Craig Brandt, U.S. Air Force; Sen. William Payne, U.S. Navy; Sen. Gabriel Ramos, U.S. Air Force; Sen. William Sharer, U.S. Army; and Sen. James White, U.S. Air Force. (Photos by Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs)
