LOS LUNAS–The new Main Street bridge in Los Lunas will be officially dedicated within the next few weeks. The naming of this bridge as the Daniel D. Fernandez Veterans Memorial Bridge was supported by a resolution from the Los Lunas Village Council, and in July the name was officially approved by the New Mexico State Transportation Commission.
Daniel D. Fernandez
This memorial dedication was a result of the hard work and tireless efforts of a select group of National Honor Society students from Valencia High School classes of 2017 and 2018.
VFW Post 9676, named after Daniel D. Fernandez, has been in continuous operation, providing community services to residents of Valencia County since it was chartered in June 1966. Members of the post, some of whom were personal friends of Daniel Fernandez and served with him during the Vietnam Conflict, are honored to have their service recognized along with that of their hometown hero, Medal of Honor recipient Daniel D. Fernandez, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Since 2016, post members have met with the Valencia High School students, their sponsor Laurie Kastelic, and members of the Fernandez family, Peter Fernandez and his wife, Lollie, to assist them in their efforts to have the new bridge commemorate all veterans, especially Daniel D. Fernandez.
The bridge design includes the placement of two dedication plaques on the walkways on each side of the bridge. VFW Post 9676 has agreed to create a bridge fund to assist with the initial cost of the fabrication and installation of the plaques and any future costs of maintaining this memorial and tribute to Daniel Fernandez and all veterans.
The post respectfully requests the public consider donating to the VFW Post 9676 Bridge Fund, established to defray the costs as previously described. Donations of any size will be placed in the Post Bridge Fund and will be used only be as described.
Donations can be made in two ways:
- By visiting the post’s website at vfw9676.org — (Scroll down on the first page and press the “donate” button and then follow the directions).
- By sending a check to the Post at: Daniel D. Fernandez, VFW Post 9676, PO Box 224, Los Lunas, NM, 87031.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 25, 2024
