The Saturday prior to Memorial Day has been celebrated for the past eighteen years at the New Mexico Merchant Marine and Military Memorial Cemetery, also known as Fort Stanton Cemetery, with a memorial service to pay tribute to veterans of all branches of the armed forces including those of the Merchant Marines. The cemetery is located on State Road 220, a short distance from historic Fort Stanton, between State Highway 48 and US Highway 380.
This year's service will be held on Saturday, May 24th at 11:00 AM. The service will be called to order by Larry Holt. We will have the invocation, presentation of colors, the singing of the National Anthem, Ernesto Ortega, Director of State Monuments will share the meaning of Memorial Day and update the plans for the new State Monument (Fort Stantoon), the mariner's farewell, a song, "Rows of crosses", written about the cemetery, 21 gun salute and TAPS.
