Walk for Heroes returns to Bataan Park Saturday

(Daily Press File Photo)

Robert Lopez, carrying the American flag; John Sterle, with the POW/MIA flag; and Joe Drake, with the New Mexico flag, comprised the Marine Corps League and American Legion color guard that walked in the 3-mile Remembrance March Walk for the Heroes at Fort Bayard in 2024. The event, marking its 15th anniversary, was organized by the Western New Mexico University Office of Veterans Affairs. By JUNO OGLE

Daily Press Staff

While there are national holidays to recognize veterans and those who died in military service, one day in October is just for Grant County, the founder of Walk for the Heroes said.

This year’s Walk for the Heroes will be Saturday in Bataan Memorial Park at Santa Clara. Registration will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m., with the 3-mile walk beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing through the park, the Fort Bayard National Cemetery and historic Fort Bayard.

“We have Memorial Day, but this is a little bit more personal,” Mike Lopez said. “It’s theirs. It’s Grant County. It’s not my walk.”

Lopez, an Army veteran, said he started the walk 17 years ago, and back then, the walk was held on the highway to Deming. A woman brought him a photo of her son who had recently been killed while serving in Iraq, and asked him to walk with the photo.

“By our fourth walk, my whole vest was full of pictures — people bringing the pictures so I could walk with them,” he said. “I call it ‘heroes’ because I think everyone that puts on a uniform are heroes.”

Those first walks were sponsored by the county’s Vietnam Veterans chapter and then-state Sen. Howie Morales. Now there are 31 sponsors, Lopez said.

Three years ago, Western New Mexico University’s Office of Veterans Affairs partnered with the event. The walk also moved to Bataan Memorial Park that year.

“It just went to another level,” Lopez said. “We found a home there, and we found a home with WNMU.”

The $25 registration fee for the event goes back into the community.

“Every bit of money we get, we put back into the community,” Lopez said. “We have a scholarship fund with Western, and we’re going to have holiday meals this year for underprivileged, not only veterans, but throughout the community.”

Veterans are honored with plaques after the walk, and there will be free food and drinks available. Registered walkers will receive a T-shirt and commemorative coin, and Lopez said the first veteran who finishes the walk will receive a commemorative quilt.

Juno Ogle may be reached at juno@scdai lypress.com.