A Salute to Our Heroes

On November 15, 2014, the Museum of the American Military Family, the City of Albuquerque , ChoppHearse, the Albuquerque Balloon Museum, and dozens of other organizations and groups collaborated on a “Salute to Our Heroes”. It was an amazing event.

Flag line and person bearing Memorial Folded Flag outside at Salute to Heroes Veterans Day Celebration 2014

Motorcyclists in jackets entering Salute to Heroes Veterans Day Celebration 2014

Mr. & Mrs. Olson holding small flags at Salute to Heroes Veterans Day Celebration 2014

The event started off with a motorcade and a flag line. Museum visitors joined cadets from several JROTC and ROTC units, the Young Marines and Bataan Military Academy. Distinguished guests from the National Guard, the City of Albuquerque and Service Organizations joined the procession into the Balloon Museum, where Director Sandor Cohen welcomed them, saying,

“WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AS PART OF A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED VETERANS – DEFENDERS OF OUR FREEDM – AND TO SUPPORT A VERY SPECIAL NEW MUSEUM IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA THAT NOT ONLY HONORS THE HEROES IN OUR MILITARY…BUT THAT ALSO TELLS THE STORY OF THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, WHO EQUALLY EXEMPLIFY THAT SAME SENSE OF DUTY AND SACRIFICE AND LOVE OF COUNTRY THAT WE FIND IN THOSE WHO SERVE.”

As part of the program, there was a very moving flag folding ceremony followed by MAMF Director, Circe Olson Woessner accepting the flag,  and reminding the audience,

“…So when celebrating Veterans Day, we should remember all of our Veterans, by thanking them for their service, listening to their stories…welcoming them home, but we also need to remember the ones who have died without ever telling their stories, the ones who are living in poverty on the streets, the ones that have no family or are being honored by strangers. Today, we specially honor them and welcome them to our family. “

A middle school choir sang “Unsung Heroes”in closing.

After the ceremony, museum visitors visited with MAMF board members and Operation Footlocker, the Buffalo Soldiers and visited the museum and Service Organization exhibits. Children made crafts with MAMF Artist-in-Residence Joan Olson.

In the afternoon, MAMF Writer-in-Residence Caroline LeBlanc joined Jacqueline Murray Lohrig, Karin Bradberry and Circe for a “4 Voices” performance.

They were followed by a wonderful concert by the New Mexico Territorial Band.

It was a wonderful day and the Museum of the American Military Family and the Albuquerque Balloon Museum wish to thank everyone who made the event such a wonderful tribute to our Service Men and Women.