4-25-2025 5:55am

Honor Flight Welcome Our Heros Home New York Ave Patrons Hall Saturday

Chris Edwards Editor

Come and join the town of Alamogordo, bring your flags and patriotic wear to New York Avenue, and Patrons Hall at the Flickinger Center, to welcome back 2 very special local veterans for a Heros Welcome from their Honor Flight.

Two local veterans are to be honored; Retired Air Force Lt Col Gloria Fernandez and Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Thomas McKean.

Retired Air Force Lt Col Gloria Fernandez Grew up in boston Joined 1955 into the medical career field as an anesthesiologist. She was deployed into multiple areas and treated many soldiers over the years for a variety of injuries. She was awarded as a member of the Society of Air Force Nurses.

Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Thomas McKean joined the military in 1966 out of Nebraska. He grew up in Iowa as a Maintainer and worked on 106's/F-4's/F-15's/105's/111'.. Through his career he was deployed to multiple locations.

American soldiers returning home from Vietnam often faced scorn as the war they had fought in became increasingly unpopular, and yet, a majority of those who participated, were drafted and had no choice. They deserved, a welcome home and we have another Heros Welcome coming up in Alamogordo.

Save the date of April 26th, 2025 at 8:00 pm for a very special hero's welcome home. This Welcome Home to Heros event is hosted by the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter and Honor Flight.

The public is invited and encouraged to join AlamogordoTownNews.com and KRAZY KALHRadio.org, as we join the community to celebrate these local heros.

The Honor Flight Van will be escorted by police, and the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter will come up White Sands Boulevard and to downtown New York Avenue for a hero's welcome and a meet and greet.

The travel plans for Honor Flight include the veterans departing from Las Cruces they fly out of El Paso to Washington DC. They will go to many sites in the DC area including Arlington and the War memorials. They will return to a “heroes welcome” at El Paso airport with their flight. They will then be escorted via the Texas State Police with assistance from the El Paso Police Department, the New Mexico State Police, the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club along with the Alamogordo Police Department to bring them back to Alamogordo and be welcomed back to Alamogordo Main Street New York Avenue at Patrons Hall for a reception and meet and greet.

Honor Flight transports America's World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans to Washington DC to visit the memorials built to honor and remember those who served. This trip of a lifetime provides closure, healing and the welcome home these heroes deserve. Every Veteran is taken on the flight at no cost to themselves. To learn more visit https://www.honorflightnm.org/.

Let's show unity in spirit and bring out a huge crowd April 26th 8 pm to welcome back home these honored veterans.