Gov. Susana Martinez delivered the eulogy. “People say that these heroes didn’t have family, but they did have family,” said Martinez. “New Mexico is their family.” NMDVS Secretary Jack Fox introduced the governor. Fox retired as a brigadier general and Deputy Adjutant General of New Mexico of the New Mexico National Guard. He also provided the closing remarks for the ceremony. Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, read the roll call for the deceased veterans. Each name was accompanied by the strike of a bell. The veterans were Airman 3rd Class Alvin Appleton, U.S. Air Force; Pvt. Charles Page, U.S. Army; Pvt. Gordon Messuck, U.S. Army; Pfc. Gregory William Underhill, U.S. Army; Pvt. Joseph Bell, U.S. Army; Senior Airman Mark Lawson, U.S. Air Force; Pfc. Michael Sheeran, U.S. Marine Corps; and Pfc. Seyed N. Shafii, U.S. Army. Woodshop students from Valley High School in Albuquerque, supervised by teacher Gino Perez, crafted wooden urns for each veteran. Santa Fe National Cemetery Director Jared Howard recognized Perez and thanked his students during the ceremony. Retired 1st Sgt. Ralph Harris, formerly of the 44th Army Band, played “Taps” after a NMNG detail fired three rifle volleys. A joint honor guard consisting of members of the NMNG, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force folded a U.S. flag and presented it to Nava. Nava then presented the flag to Martinez, who accepted it on behalf of the veterans’ families. The honor guard had held that same flag taut over the urns for most of the ceremony. Howard opened the ceremony and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Melinda Joy Pattison of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe sang the national anthem. Father Larry Brito of St. Anne’s Parish provided the invocation and benediction. Law enforcement officers from multiple New Mexico agencies escorted Martinez and the cremains from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
