Alamogordo NM
11-11-2026 5:34am

2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News Alamogordo Honors Its Veterans on Veterans Day 2026

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — At 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, Alamogordo pauses to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States. In a city whose story has been tied to Holloman Air Force Base since 1942, Veterans Day is not an abstraction. It is the neighbor down the street, the retiree at the VFW, and the Airman who just came home from deployment.

The 108th anniversary of the World War I armistice falls midweek this year, so the community began its tribute early. Since Saturday, residents have lined 10th Street, filled the civic center and gathered at the airport to say thank you.

A week of tribute

The observances opened Saturday, Nov. 7, with the annual Veterans Day Parade down 10th Street from Cuba Avenue to Maryland Avenue. The free parade was organized by Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1257 at Holloman (Town News).

Airmen of the 49th Wing marched alongside cadets of the Alamogordo High School Air Force Junior ROTC, and the Tiger marching band played the route (DVIDS). The Patriot Guard Riders staged that morning at Mountain View Church on Cuba Avenue to ride in the procession (Patriot Guard Riders).

The same day, the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport held a free Open House and Veterans Appreciation Day with aircraft displays, food trucks and STEM activities. The city's Sounds of Freedom celebration filled Alameda Park (City of Alamogordo). On Tuesday night, AFSA Chapter 1257 hosted its 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner at the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, free to local veterans and a guest.

A military town at heart

Few New Mexico communities are as bound to the armed forces as Alamogordo. This past May, the city and Holloman received the 2025 Altus Community Support Award, their second win in three years (Holloman AFB). The honor recognizes the city's backing of the base and its families.

That bond keeps growing. In June the 49th Wing welcomed Col. Michael S. Mullin as commander, back for a second tour, as the wing moved to Air Combat Command (Town News). In July six 49th Wing Airmen, including two Security Forces leaders awarded the Bronze Star, were recognized for combat service in the Middle East (Air University). They are today's veterans in the making.

The city's older generations are honored, too. In April, Vietnam-era veterans Chris Hall and Lucio Vazquez came home from a Rio Grande Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., to a hero's welcome at Patron's Hall (Town News). Over Memorial Day weekend, more than 70 volunteers joined VFW Post 7686 at dawn to place flags on veterans' graves at Monte Vista Cemetery (Town News).

Groups like the U.S. Veterans MC Trinity Chapter, chartered here in 2018 on a mission of veterans helping veterans, carry that service forward all year (Town News).

How to say thank you

The parade may be over, but there are simple ways to honor veterans today and beyond:

  • Attend a ceremony. Tularosa, Ruidoso and Cloudcroft all welcome the public this morning.
  • Pause at 11 a.m. Observe a moment of silence at the hour the armistice took effect in 1918.
  • Support local posts. VFW Post 7686 serves Alamogordo and Tularosa, and American Legion Post 108 serves Tularosa. Both rely on members and volunteers.
  • Back an Honor Flight. Rio Grande Honor Flight trips are free to veterans, funded by community donations (riograndehonorflight.org).
  • Listen. Ask a veteran about their service, and let them tell it in their own words.

Help for veterans

Veterans seeking benefits help can contact the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services. Any veteran in crisis, or anyone worried about one, can call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, available around the clock.

Every day a Veterans Day

From the F-16s over the Tularosa Basin to the flags at Monte Vista Cemetery, Alamogordo lives alongside its service members every day. Today the city simply says it out loud.

To every veteran, active-duty member and military family in Alamogordo, Holloman, Tularosa and beyond: thank you for your service.

Note article by Chris Edwards, a journalist for 2nd Life Media affiliated sites. Mr Edwards is a strong advocate and supporter of the mission of the Honor Flights, the local VFW’s upgrades and its impact of support as a safe and diverse gathering place for our veterans, and supporting the mission of team Holloman and all of our area veterans. 

Sources

More News from Alamogordo
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive