Free Admission to NM State Fair on “Military & Veterans Day at the State Fair” on September 12

Military & Veterans Day at the State Fair Set for September 12

Free Admission for Veterans/Retirees, Guard/Reserve/Active-Duty Personnel

Tuesday, September 12

Albuquerque/New Mexico State Fairgrounds

(300 San Pedro Drive NE)

 

(ALBUQUERQUE, NM) –Military veterans and National Guard/Reserve/active-duty personnel will be admitted free to the New Mexico State Fair for Military and Veterans Day at the State Fair on Tuesday, September 12.

This annual day at the state fair in Albuquerque is presented by the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, the New Mexico National Guard, and the New Mexico State Fair to honor and thank the men and women who have served our country as members of the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans, National Guard/Reserve personnel, and retirees must present either a valid Uniformed Services Retiree Identification Card, a veterans-designation driver’s license, VA Veterans Health ID Card, or a copy of their DD-214 Separation Papers at the gate in order to obtain the free admission. Active-duty personnel must show a valid Uniformed Services ID card.

Non-veteran/non-military spouses or family members are not eligible for the free admission.

In addition to the numerous rides and attractions at the state fair, there will be dozens of booths, exhibits and information tables along “Main Street” staffed by military service branches, veterans’ organizations, and other community service groups.

At 11 o’clock, a brief ceremony on the main stage will highlight this year’s theme: The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the start of the Bataan Death March.

It was 75 years ago–on April 9, 1942—when more than 75,000 Allied service members were ordered by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Edward King, the Commanding General of the Philippine-American forces on the Bataan Peninsula, to surrender to Japanese forces on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines during the outset of World War II.

1,800 members of the New Mexico National Guard’s 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Units were among the 75,000 Allied prisoners who marched 60 torture-filled miles through the jungle to prison camps. Less than half of these 1,800 were alive when Japan surrendered 3-1/2 years later.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, members from the American Gold Star Mothers/New Mexico Chapter will read the names of the 87 New Mexicans killed in action since the Global War on Terror commenced shortly after the 9/11

Fairground gates open at 9am, and free parking is available at Gate 8.  The New Mexico State Fairgrounds is located at 300 San Pedro Drive NE in Albuquerque.

For more information about Military & Veterans Day at the New Mexico State Fair, contact Josetta Rodriguez at Josetta.rodriguez@state.nm.us or Tom Griego at tgriego31@comcast.net.