Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Celebrating the nation's fallen heroes

As the nation prepares to celebrate its fallen heroes Monday, Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Karl Terry wants to remind you of the efforts of one Portales High School class.

The PHS class of 1958 saw fit to honor members of the armed forces who died while serving any war since the county's inception, and after four years of planning, unveiled its efforts with a war memorial dedication ceremony last year during Memorial Day weekend.

Those who died in the numerous wars are featured on paver stones at the Roosevelt County War Memorial site on the Roosevelt County Courthouse square.

Terry said he is planning to lay more down soon and anyone wishing to recognize a fallen soldier still has time to do so. Installation of pavers will be made periodically.

"If we got someone looking to do the pavers, they can come by and get a form here and turn it in," Terry said. "We have 22 waiting, so it probably won't be too long before we lay some more down."

The site currently has 196 engraved paver stones on its walkway.

Larry Smith, war memorial committee chairman, is a member of the PHS class of 1958. He brought the idea of the memorial to his class when it met in 2008 for its 50th reunion. The idea was well-received and several class members kicked the fund off with donations.

The committee decided that while it would recognize the dead from numerous wars, a special note would be made of the heavy price Roosevelt County paid in the Bataan Death March at the beginning of World War II.

In addition to those who died on the Death March, the survivors who came home to Roosevelt County are listed on a separate stone.

To purchase a paver stone for the Roosevelt County War Memorial, contact Karl Terry at 356-8541.

FYI

If you are looking for something to do this Memorial Day, the American Legion will be hosting its 67th annual Memorial Day Program 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Portales Cemetery.

Here is the program's schedule:

  • Welcome: Commander Joe Blair of the American Legion Post 31.
  • Posting of the colors: American Legion members
  • The Pledge of Allegiance: Dennis Darrow, American Legion member
  • Star Spangled Banner: Sung by Don Criss
  • Invocation: Winston Berry
  • Memorial Day reading: Don Criss
  • Speaker introduction: Joe Blair
  • Memorial Day address: Lt. Col. Travis Norton, commander of 3rd special operations squadron at Cannon Air Force Base
  • Tribute to Gold Star Mothers: Judy Hall of the American Legion Auxiliary
  • Laying of the wreath: Lynnde Hall
  • Benediction: Winston Berry
  • Taps: Vivian Cato