Team Holloman helps celebrate Alamogordo Armed Forces Day

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Logan Clark
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. --  The City of Alamogordo, N.M., and more than 9,000 attendees from the local area helped celebrate the city's 35th annual Armed Forces Day May 19.

The celebration, in conjunction with a three-on-three basketball tournament, is designed to tribute the military veterans currently serving in the local area, as well as all those who have served their country honorably.

The weekend event also featured a car show, carnival rides, live entertainment and food vendors from around the area, as well as displays by volunteer Airmen and Soldiers from the local military installations.

"Alamogordo is proud to be home to Holloman Air Force Base and Battery C- National Guard Armory, as well as the German air force and many retired military," said Susie Galea, Mayor of Alamogordo, in her speech during the opening ceremony.

Raul Ruiz, the event coordinator for the past 23 years, said each year they try to keep the event fun and uplifting to draw a lot of attendees while still trying to maintain an emphasis on honoring the armed forces.

"We want to make sure that everybody is still aware that this is an event to honor the men and women of the armed forces, and we want to keep that focus, so we try not to venture off too far from that," said Ruiz.

As part of that focus, several units from Holloman AFB were present with displays and demonstrations throughout the day, including members of the 49th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section; 49th Security Forces Squadron combat arms section; 49th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight; 49th Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services flight; 49th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management flight; 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight; and 49th Materiel Maintenance Group.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ray Lara, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight training supervisor, said the event is a way for the military to be more personable and show off what the Air Force does.

"[The public] gets to see something outside of what's on the news or what they hear from family and friends. They get to see it themselves," said Lara. "It makes it a little easier to connect with who we are and what we do."

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Staff Sgt. Ryan Parent, who is also the military liaison for the White Sands Pupfish baseball team, says he definitely feels the support of the community for the military members who live here.

"It's nice to have a big community, military and non-military, come out and show their support," he said. "It's not always like that in military towns."

The mayor offered some insight into her own support of the military as well.

"As a military spouse, I understand the challenges and loneliness felt as you stay behind to keep the home fires burning. Thank you for your strength and faithful endurance. Now, to all the service men and women, we are indebted to you for your service and sacrifices."