Save the Date: Alamogordo to Welcome Home Honor Flight Veteran September 26th at VFW Post 7686

ALAMOGORDO, NM — Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM, when Alamogordo will once again line up to welcome home one of its own. A local veteran is returning from his Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., and the community is invited to give him the reception he has earned at VFW Post 7686, 700 Hwy 70 W.

The event is hosted by the U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter, with support from Rio Grande Honor Flight and the Patriot Guard Riders. This fall's homecoming moves to the VFW post on Highway 70, a new setting for a tradition that has grown in recent years. Contact the post at 575-437-0770 for details.

A Trip of a Lifetime

Honor Flight trips give veterans the chance to see the memorials built in their honor. On past flights, local veterans have visited Arlington and the Vietnam and Korean War memorials. Rio Grande Honor Flight provides these trips free to veterans, funded by community donations and volunteers. Organizers describe the journey as one that brings closure and healing, along with the welcome home these heroes deserve.

For many Vietnam-era veterans, that last part matters most. At a 2022 homecoming, organizers shared one veteran's reflection that having people cheer and show pride in him healed wounds others could not imagine.

A Growing Alamogordo Tradition

The Trinity Chapter has made these homecomings a local fixture. Chartered in 2018, the chapter has joined the Patriot Guard Riders in welcoming several groups of Honor Flight veterans, turning the returns into yearly celebrations of gratitude in Alamogordo. Details of this honoree is still pending and will be featured in an upcoming story. 

The turnout has been strong. In September 2024, three Vietnam-era veterans returning on Honor Flight #18 were greeted at the Otero County Fairgrounds by a large, enthusiastic crowd. In April 2025, residents gathered on New York Avenue to honor retired Air Force Lt. Col. Gloria Fernandez and retired Senior Master Sgt. Thomas McKean. Most recently, on April 25, 2026, the city welcomed Chris Hall and Lucio Vazquez, both Vietnam-era veterans, with a flag-line escort from the Trinity Chapter and Patriot Guard Riders, backed by State Police, Alamogordo Police, and Otero County Sheriff's Office support.

How You Can Help

Organizers ask residents to arrive early, bring American flags and handmade signs, and wear red, white, and blue. The veteran's arrival is typically escorted by motorcycle riders and local law enforcement, and a crowd waiting for him is the best part of the homecoming.

VFW Post 7686 continues its year of service to local veterans after participating in a 9/11 remembrance car show earlier this month. As Post Commander Ryan "Check" Nowaczck said in May, "Your presence matters." On September 26th, it will.

Event Details

What: Welcome Home for Our Hero

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026, 7:00 PM

Where: VFW Post 7686, 700 Hwy 70 W, Alamogordo

Hosted by: U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter

Info: riograndehonorflight.org

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