NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 Las Cruces Transportation Entertainment YOUR RIDE. YOUR WAY. White Sands May 28 - June 3, 2021 Las Cruces Shuttle – Taxi Charter – Courier Guide Veteran Owned and Operated Missile Range gets Since 1985. Inside new commanding The animated comedy series Call us to make “HouseBroken” a reservation today! premieres Monday on Fox. We are Covid-19 Safe-Practice Compliant general Call us at 800-288-1784 or for more details page 11 visit www.lascrucesshuttle.com2 x 5.5” ad FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 PHARMACY SOLUTIONS! I Volume 53, Number 22 Providing Full-service Pharmacy Needs in New Mexico for over 60 Years! • Assisted Living • Skilled Nursing I lascrucesbulletin.com • Hospice A cartoon is Lisa • Long-term care • DD Waiver and more Kudrow’s new calling with Call us today! 575-288-1412 Ask your provider if they utilize the many benefits of XR Innovations, such as: Blister or A&E multi-dose packaging, OTC’s & FREE Delivery. Learn more about what we do at WhoWho DoDo ‘HouseBroken’ www.rxinnovationslc.net2 x 4” ad Lonnie Klein looks back on two You Carry? decades with You Carry? symphony page 26 RELIGION Memorial Medical Center celebrates Pastoral Care Ministry page 36 BUSINESS A “new place to be” opens up in historic Mesilla Rocky Everett and Jason Diggins “Carry the Load” through Downtown Las Cruces as part of the nonprofit effort to recognize veterans and first responders who page 38 have lost their lives. Carry the Load has four relays that converge in Dallas for Memorial Day. The West Coast Relay, which came through Las Cruces May 18, started in Seattle. For more on this story see page 4. And to see what Las Cruces has to offer at Veterans Memorial Park see page 3. PHOTO BY ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH 2 | FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | 3 Veterans Park: Honoring, remembering and still growing By MIKE COOK prised of descendants of Las Cruces Bulletin Memorial Day and related events Bataan soldiers, clean and SATURDAY, MAY 29: 10 a.m., dedication of the Family Gold maintain the monument. The City of Las Cruces’ Star Memorial, Veterans Memorial Park. The Women Veterans garrison flag will be flying Monument was dedi- SUNDAY, MAY 30: 4 p.m., members of the city Veterans on Memorial Day at Veter- cated March 10, 2018. The Advisory Board will place candles on the Veterans Memorial ans Memorial Park, 1151 Wall at Veterans Memorial Park. The city’s garrison flag will be project was spearheaded Roadrunner Parkway, flying. by the United Military and members of the city Women of the Southwest Veterans Advisory Board and is one of only a few of will place candles on the and when America needs The park’s memorial its kind across the coun- Veterans Memorial Wall. her heroes, these brave walking path guides try that honor military “Our Veterans Park is women and men answer visitors through monu- women. better characterized as the call.” ments honoring Disabled “Veterans Memorial BULLETIN PHOTO BY MIKE COOK hallowed ground, rec- The park was dedicated American Veterans, other Park is a very special ognizing the sacrifices May 5, 1999. It was built veterans’ groups and mili- Standing in the shadow of the Bataan Memorial sculpture at place,” retired U.S. Marine of our brave heroes who as a cooperative effort by tary organizations and the Veterans Memorial Park are Gerry Schurtz, Amanda Lopez Capt. Carol J. Gaines said. and Martha Banegas-Legarreta, all of Las Cruces. served this great country the City of Las Cruces wars they fought in. “It pleases me, makes me of ours,” said Mayor Ken and the Las Cruces Home The Vietnam Memorial dedicated April 13, 2002. 1942 Bataan Death March grateful that veterans are Miyagishima. “While Builders Association in honors the 398 New Mexi- Bonnie and Gerry Schurtz in the Philippines for the remembered and honored, extending an opportu- conjunction with the Vet- cans killed during the of Las Cruces traveled footprints placed at base and sad as I remember nity for our young ones erans Advisory Board and Vietnam War. across New Mexico taking of the monument. Mem- those veteran friends from to better understand the the Parks and Recreation The Bataan Death plaster casts of the bare bers of the Remember role of the U.S. military Advisory Board. March Memorial was feet of survivors of the Bataan Foundation, com- SEE VETERANS, PAGE 5 Bachelor’s in Nursing: Dr. Tucker welcomes New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM Melinda Brooks, FNP, MSN Master’s in Nursing: Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Regis University, Denver, CO Memorial Family HealthCare Sonoma Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate: 4672 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Suite B University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Las Cruces, NM, 88011 Colorado Springs, CO Specializes in: Primary care for all ages Diabetes Welcoming new patients management Well-baby exams Appointments may be made by calling 575.556.1871 Wound care Children’s sports/ Management of wellness exams depression and anxiety Vaccinations Women’s health FamilyHealthSonoma.com 4 | FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Who do you carry? Honoring the memory of those who served By ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH Las Cruces Bulletin Relay manager Michael “Goldy” Golden is part of a mission to bring back the true meaning of Me- morial Day. “The purpose of what it’s about gets lost some- times,” he said. In 2011, a couple of Navy SEALS who had lost several friends were dis- At an information station, a flag to be carried on the relay and turbed about the way Me- PHOTOS BY ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH morial Day was handled, the Carry the Load bus display the intent of the relay project to honor veterans and first responders who have lost their Golden said. They put Andy Medrano sets off through his leg of Carry the Load, which takes him through Las Cruces lives. to the Downtown fire station on Picacho Avenue. backpacks on, put weights in their packs and started remember the nation’s gives you the feel of what 30, we make sure they are to remember someone walking. They walked heroes, and now has four America is really about.” safe,” she said. who has served. We ex- around White Rock Lake different relays across the Media coordinator Mea- Golden said in 2011 panded; we include first in Dallas and had some country. gan Heathcott said she when the event started, responders as well. With- friends join them. In 2016, the organization has always had a deep ap- when those two guys out them taking care of In 2012, they decided to opened up the West Coast preciation for those who started walking, an older our veterans’ families at have a relay and walked Relay, traveling 4,600 protect others. gentleman looked at them home, our service mem- from West Point, New miles from Seattle to Dal- “It’s important to me and asked, “Who are bers couldn’t do their York, to Dallas, more peo- las in 32 days, Golden said and our team to celebrate you carrying?,” because jobs.” ple joined them and Carry as he and other organizers their life and to honor he could see they had a He said Carry the Load the Load was born. The made stops in Las Cruces their sacrifices and to purpose and he could see has bibs they put the group became a nonprofit on May 18. continue to make sure there was a mission to names on and partici- that provides active ways They left Seattle on they are not forgotten,” what they were doing. pants can carry them on a Jason Diggins, participating to connect Americans to April 29 and will arrive in she said. “It was the perfect segment of the relay. Each in one of the Las Cruces legs the sacrifices of the na- Dallas May 30. The four The team provides sup- phrase,” Golden said. “So segment is 2 to 4 hours of Carry the Load relay, is tion’s military, veterans, relays will meet up and port for those on the relay, now we ask, ‘Who can long. wearing a bib with the names first responders and their hold a rally. making sure they are we carry for you? What’s “Most people do have of two sheriff’s department officers who lost their lives in families. “We meet incredible hydrated and have all they your story? Who are you someone in mind to the line of duty. Carry the Load has people along the way,” need. carrying?’ carry, whether it’s their turned into a worldwide Golden said. “From a “Whether we have a “Ultimately we want family or a loved one or disturbance when a man movement to honor and personal perspective, it group of one or a group of people on Memorial Day somebody they have con- came to the door and shot nections with,” Heathcott them. said. “And we do display Up to this year Carry WelcomingNew Patients! our storyboards. Anybody the Load has raised more is welcome to join and than $26 million, Golden Nicole OswaltGarcia, NP keep our stories alive.” said. This year, the goal is Antiques, Collectibles, Furniture, Jewelry, Gifts Walking on one of the $1.25 million and well on Pediatrics Antiques, Collectibles, Furniture, Jewelry, Gifts Gently UsedGently Used Furniture Furniture Appreciated! Appreciated! legs through Las Cruces, its way. The organization COME SHOP OUR LARGE SELECTION OF ANTIQUE JEWELRY! Tuesdays are 20% Senior Discount Day! Jason Diggins’ carries the does not directly provide FAMILY CARE ANDPEDIATRICS Tuesdays areDONATE 20% SHOPSenior SUPPORT Discount Day! Mesilla Valley Hospice load of Deputy Samuel services but rather has or- 2405 STelshor Blvd.