Veterans Day Program presented by Morenci Third Graders
By Raymundo Frasquillo
CLIFTON – November 11th was first celebrated as the end of World War I hostilities, “On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. The armistice took effect at that time and date.
The next year, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring Nov. 11, 1919, as the first Armistice Day. He described it as “a day filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service,” with gratitude for the victory that restored peace.
The U.S. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 formally recognizing Armistice Day. It urged Americans to observe the date annually “with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.”
Twelve years later, in 1938, Congress enacted Public Law 510, designating Nov. 11 as a legal holiday to be known as ‘Armistice Day’ and thereafter to be celebrated. It largely honored World War I veterans.
After World War II and the Korean conflict, veterans’ groups started to urge Congress to expand Armistice Day to honor all those who served in U.S. armed forces.
Congress amended the 1938 Act in 1954, replacing “Armistice ” with ”Veterans,” and President Dwight David Eisenhower signed the change into law. He called for all Americans to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly…and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” Thus, the holiday was intended to recognize service members from every era, not just those of the Great War.
The difference between Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Memorial Day (last Monday in May) is not just the date. Veterans Day celebrates all U.S. veterans, whether served in wartime or peacetime, and focuses on thanking veterans for their service.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died while serving in the U.S. military, in battle or from service-related injuries. It emphasizes mourning and honoring the ultimate sacrifice of fallen service members.
Nine Greenlee County residents who paid the ultimate price during World War I were Edgar W. Banta, Carlos Chevez, William Colquhoun, Lloyd C. Hill, Willie Lee McCullock, Jake McNair, Louis Massina, Ashley Wilson, and Herold E. Wilson.
The 50 World War II Greenlee casualties included Gerald Axton, Allen G. Beck, Richard Bentley, Howard R. Blacker, Martin Cabral, Luz A. Cisneros (POW), Bazil Cocking, Edwardo B. Cordova, Raymond T. Cuda, Enrique A. Dominguez Jr., Morris Drake Franklin Jr., Joe Fierro, Robert L. Fogle, Clyde D. Hancock, Trinidad Hernandez, Raymond W. Henderson, John A. Jacobson, Joseph Frederick Jellinhausen Jr., Fredrick W. Jones, Jack Keeler, Jose L. Kline, Merlin J. Lemons, Gregorio Lucio, John M. Malone, Edmund G. Marquez, Herman McCullock, Willard C. Miller, Joseph A. Morris, Cecil H. Odell, Gauino Olivaz, Thomas J. O’Niel, Ignacio G. Paz, Carmelo Pelusi, Albert L. Provencio, Merl Pyeatt, Bob Ratlif, Alejandro Robles, Frank W. Rodriguez, Ramon G. Ruiz, Alfredo M. Sanchez, Van L. Seeley, Kenny Sherman, Lynwood Shults, Berl Stacy, Robert W. Stacy, Henry W. Stute Jr., Robert Sutherland, D.O. Tellez Jr., Hector Vasquez, and Henry Wyatt.
Six from Greenlee were taken by the Korean conflict: Raymond L. Chapman, Joe C. Perez, Hilberto “Trucha” Quintana, Rosendo Griego Romero, Vicente M. Mendoza, and Carjaro Carlos Moreno.
Thirteen Greenlee residents fell during the Vietnam conflict: Joe Manuel Salinas, Willhelm Neil Wilson, Ruben Bailon (MIA), Eddie Cesario Lopez, Arturo Rodriguez, Robert Dale Draper, Bradford Stanley King, Alfred Van Whitmer, Larry Joe West, Jose Robert Moncayo, Ronald Gene White Sr., Clive Garcia Jr., and Manuel Thomas Montoya.
Clifton has Veterans Park along Coronado Boulevard with memorials and flags scattered throughout its walls, and a Huey warbird parked outside the county law enforcement office, awaiting clearance for placement on Mares Bluff.
A luncheon will be held in the Harold E. Wilson Post No. 28 hall for veterans and their families at 11 a.m.
Metcalf Elementary School
Veterans Day Third Grade Program
A Veterans Day Program was presented by the school’s six third-grade classes on Nov. 10. Seven songs were performed by the 120 students under the direction of Gene Willey: “Liberty Bell March,” the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “This Land is Your Land,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless the USA.”
Researched papers and artwork were also on display throughout the school’s multi-purpose room.
Mrs. Jessica Gallegos (21)
Mrs. Jessica Gallegos’ class numbered 21, with Teitjan Amoreda, Abigail Baker, Tatum Cook, Ellie Diaz, Kyric Dosela, Annalia Esquivel, Jeremiah Farrell, Annalee Fox, Logan Hurst, Royal Gobert, Alex Martinez, Ian Martinic Guillen, Savannah Martin, Maliyah Mesa, Lincoln Moreno, Lolahkay Ochoa, Ariadne Quintana, Emilio Romo, Jeremiah Rope, Cade Ruedas, and Xander Waterhouse.
Mrs. Jessica Harrington (20)
Mrs. Jessica Harrington’s class had 20, with Daniela Morales, Nevaeh Apodaca, Barrett Balfour, Leland Belvado, Amethyst Brown, Paxton Burkett, Josiah Bylas, Emilio Chanez, Violet Clement, Jett Lacey, Analinda Morales, Nicholas Padilla, Junie Payne, Hollie Pollock, Cienna Sanchez, Mykayla Tea, Jaylee Tucker, Lorenzo Valdez-Salaiz, Luke Varela, and Prometheus Williams.
Mrs. Cassandra Hernandez (19)
Mrs. Cassandra Hernandez’ class numbered 19, with Hazel Anderson, Analicia Banicki, MaKayla Bikimane, Emalia Colby, Elena Dorame, Everleigh Dostlik, Nicolas Escobar Bellido, Adriel Flores, Aspen Galvez, Lucinda Grijalva, Williams Jeffords, Thiana Jimenez Tarin, David Lara Gonzalez, Noah Leddy, Vivianna Manzo, Juan Mendoza Lopez, Maverick Shamberger, Atlas Tellez, and Stevie Watkins.
Mrs. Jessica James (19)
Mrs. Jessica James’ class had 19, with Alice Clement, Brodie Doil, Dreden Gaethje, Ezaryah Garcia, Levi Garcia, Brennan Gonzales, Kaylee Gualiteri, Braden Helms, John Hernandez, Oaklynn Lacey, Robert Luna, Archer Pollock, Jemma Qasevakatini, Kaielonie Romero, Leilani Romero, Alana Sandoval, Aviana Sandoval, Cienna Vozza, and Theseus Williams.
Ms. Kayla O’Connell (21)
Ms. Kayla O’Connell’s class numbered 21, with Zayden Anguiano, Giovanni Banicki, Kenlyia Boger, Messiah Cabrera, Mannie Corona, Adalind Coronado, Savannah Curley, Azariah Delgado, Brody DeZonia, Ezekiel Gomez Alvarez, Jamie Hernandez III, Skylar Leddy, Emma LeFevre, Kipton Merrill, Brenna Ochoa, Emmi Pastika, Nayeli Reza, Aubree Talley, Nora Torres, Ezrah Varela, and Gunner Wilson.
Mrs. Sara Rios (20)
Mrs. Sara Rios’ class had 20, with Jordan Alvarez, Tristan Drapeau, Azariah Goodson, Emiliano Holguin, Bella Humeniuk, Kayson Kendall, Jace Kennedy, Juliette Linford, Samuel Linford, Jove Maggio, Yazaira Majalca, Luna Martinez, Evelyn McLemore, Ryker Morales, Yvaine Rodriguez, Sophia Sanchez, Brayden Seballos, Sophia Venegas, Estrella Vozza, and Mason Wilson.
