Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium Hosts 17th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Trinity Test Victims

Tularosa, NM – The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) will hold its 17th Annual Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, July 25, 2026, to remember those lost to cancer and honor survivors impacted by radioactive fallout from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test.

On July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the world’s first atomic device at the Trinity Site in the Tularosa Basin. The blast and subsequent radioactive fallout exposed residents in nearby communities — including Tularosa, Alamogordo, and surrounding areas in Otero, Lincoln, Socorro, and Sierra counties — to dangerous levels of radiation without warning or adequate protection. Decades later, families continue to experience disproportionately high rates of cancer, birth defects, and other radiation-related illnesses. The TBDC, founded in 2005 by Tina Cordova and the late Fred Tyler, was established to document these health impacts, compile survivor stories, and advocate for justice and compensation for what advocates call the “unknowing, unwilling, and uncompensated” victims of America’s nuclear age.

The vigil will take place at the Tularosa Veterans Memorial Park, 901 North Bookout, Tularosa, NM 88352. Gates will open at 7:30 p.m., with the program starting at 8:00 p.m. Attendees will join a solemn candlelight tribute.

Mayors from Tularosa and Alamogordo are expected to attend and speak at the event, underscoring local government support for the downwinders’ cause and the importance of community remembrance and advocacy.

Luminarias honoring loved ones who lost their battle with cancer will be available for a suggested donation of $1.00 each.

TBDC members will provide information on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and guidance on how to apply. An update on the RECA program — expanded in recent years to include Trinity downwinders — will also be presented. Many families have now received compensation, but advocates emphasize the need for continued outreach to ensure eligible individuals are supported.

For more information, contact Tina Cordova at 505-897-6787 or tcordova@queston.net. Visit www.trinitydownwinders.com for additional details.

The annual vigil serves as both a memorial and a call to action, highlighting the human cost of the Trinity test and the ongoing fight for full recognition and support for affected New Mexico families. The public is warmly invited to attend.

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