New Mexico honors Forgotten Heroes

Story by Spc. Cesar Salazar Jr., 200th Public Affairs Detachment, New Mexico National Guard

SANTA FE, N.M., — The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services held a private memorial service Sept. 24 at the Santa Fe National Cemetery for veterans who, upon their deaths, were unclaimed by family members.

The ceremony honored 29 military veterans who served in different branches of the U.S. military and included burial with full military honors.

“Today we are paying tribute and doing a final salute to 29 veterans who served our nation,” said Judy Griego, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services.

The ceremony included bagpipes and bugle players, a flag-folding ceremony and three rifle volleys performed by a New Mexico Army National Guard Honor Guard and the American Legion.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance was limited. Attendees adhered to social distancing and wore masks.

“Unfortunately because of COVID-19 we had to make changes, but we’re still doing the right thing by having the flags set up, giving them the proper burials, giving them the proper prayers, playing “Taps” for them and giving them full military honors,” said Griego.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was unable to attend due to work restrictions but recorded a videotaped eulogy for the ceremony.

“We are forced to host this ceremony virtually, but that should not diminish our effort to provide these veterans the ‘final salute’ they earned through their service to our country,” Lujan Grisham said. “This may be called the Forgotten Heroes Funeral, but these heroes today are not forgotten. May the souls of these 29 men rest now and forever in peace.”

The veterans, who resided in New Mexico, received honorable discharges from their services. When their remains went unclaimed, NMDVS worked with Bernalillo County to arrange a proper burial.

“They all raised their right hand and they all served our country, so it’s important that we give them their final resting place and give them a proper burial,” Griego said.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, presented the folded American Flag used in the service to Griego, who accepted it on behalf of Governor Lujan Grisham and the citizens of New Mexico.

The Forgotten Heroes Funeral Program originated in 2009 through an initial collaboration with Bernalillo County, which sought assistance to help lay to rest – with honor – the cremated remains of its unclaimed deceased veterans. It was the first state-led collaborative effort in the nation to ensure that unclaimed deceased honorably discharged veterans receive a military funeral.

“Unfortunately, we have our service members who died alone and there are no families to claim them,” said Jennifer Dehorty, interim director, Santa Fe National Cemetery. “This makes sure that they’re provided their burial benefit and that they rest with their brothers and sisters in arms so they’re no longer alone.”

The following 29 veterans were interred with full military honors.

U.S. Air Force Pvt. Adrian San Jose Christain Aarons (Date of death: 5/23/19)

U.S. Army (rank undetermined) Lionel Eugene Austin (12/31/18)

Air Force Airman 1st Class Robert Bell (8/23/18)

U.S Navy Seaman Apprentice John D. Brant (12/31/17)

Army Spc. Dobbins D. Brown (8/10/18)

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Lee Bryson (1/31/18)

Army (rank undetermined) Jimmy Edward Chavez (2/25/18)

Army (rank undetermined) Fredrick Finfrock (3/19/19)

Air Force Master Sgt. Arnold Alvin Fischer (9/14/18)

Army (rank undetermined) Horatio C. Flores (9/10/18)

U.S. Marine Corps (rank undetermined) Bruce Charles Fox (2/1/19)

Navy (rank undetermined) Gregory Ayala Garcia (5/14/18)

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Hugh Kenneth Gilmour (9/4/18)

Navy (rank undetermined) Fred Louis Hernandez (10/24/18)

Marine Corps (rank undetermined) Perry Lee Hiner (6/11/18)

Army Pfc. Rafael Jesus Hinojosa (12/29/18)

Air Force (rank undetermined) Jimmy Wayne Mattison (5/4/18)

Army Pfc. Gary W. Moore (7/16/18)

Army Pfc. Carlos Pinkston (4/30/18)

Navy Seaman Apprentice Larry Wayne Reckard (7/3/18)

Army (rank undetermined) Don Anthony Saavedra (12/31/18)

Air Force (rank undetermined) Herdia Luke Shell (9/25/18)

Army Spc. Darryl Howard Shrader (6/15/18)

Air Force Staff Sgt. James Arthur Stevens (3/11/19)

Air Force (rank undetermined) Hugh Godwin Vann II (9/22/18)

Marine Corps Cpl. Earl Brubaker (3/27/17)

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Elbert Stocks (3/13/18)

Army Pvt. Richard Wolfe (6/12/18)

Air Force Tech Sgt. Buddy Milford (3/6/17)

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