LOS LUNAS — National Medal of Honor Day is celebrated annually on March 25, and National Vietnam War Veterans Day is celebrated annually on March 29.

Los Lunas VFW Post 9676 invites the public, especially Vietnam war-era veterans, to celebrate both of these important days with them from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 25. The celebration will be held at their post home, the yellow building (former train depot) located at the entrance to Daniel D. Fernandez Memorial Park on N.M. 314 in Los Lunas.

In celebration of National Medal of Honor Day, the post has invited historian John Taylor to preview, his soon-to-be-released book, “A Legacy of Honor,” which describes the lives and exploits of 49 men with strong connections to New Mexico.

These veterans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives, above and beyond the call of duty.

The post also invited Dr. Richard Melzer, Cynthia Shetter and Taylor to preview their soon-to-be-released book, “Daniel D. Fernández: The Man Behind the Medal of Honor,” about the life of our own Medal of Honor recipient, Daniel D. Fernandez. The book starts with his boyhood in Los Lunas and ends with his tragic death in the jungles of Vietnam.

Both of these books will soon be available on Amazon with all proceeds going to support the Community Services Activities of VFW Post 9676.  All attendees wanting to purchase one or both of these historical books can sign up do so, with Post Adjutant Frank Gurule at the end of the celebration.

The post will hold a drawing to give away one copy of each of these books to two lucky attendees.

To celebrate National Vietnam War Veterans Day, Jack Lovato, post quartermaster and webmaster, will speak about the creation and history of National Vietnam War Veterans Day and why it is celebrated annually on March 29.

Lovato will also provide attendees with a partial chronology of the United States 25-year involvement in the Vietnam war.  After presentations and dismissal, refreshments will be served and the authors and veterans will be available for visitation.

Vietnam Veterans Day

The Chavez-Curran VFW Post 2387 will host a Vietnam Veterans Day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, at the Veterans Memorial at Eagle Park in Belen. There will be a ceremony honoring veterans as well as nurses who served during the Vietnam War.

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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.