CIBOLA COUNTY - Veterans were honored all over Cibola County on Wednesday, Nov. 11, as American celebrated the 91st Veteran's Day.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

    World War I, known at the time as 'The Great War,' officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside of Paris, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Nov. 11 is when the United States honors its veterans and Cibola County was no exception as all events were packed with veterans, government officials, family and friends.

    On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the U.S. Marine Corps birthday, was the unveiling of an Historic Marker just east of Grants honoring the Battle of Khe Sanh during the Vietnam war. The unveiling ceremony was packed with vets coming from as far as California and Illinois.

    On Wednesday there were many events at schools which remained open on the national holiday.

At 11 a.m. a ceremony in honor of all veterans was held at the Vietnam War Memorial on Grants' west end at Friendship Park. At that event, Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Fred Grey and American Legion Commander Aaron Dean specifically recognized their wives and women in general for assisting them in their endeavors. “Without them, there would be no VFW,” Grey said.

    The first New Mexico Korean War Memorial was dedicated at 3 p.m. at Alfonso Lopez's residence on Zuni Canyon Road. Lopez's dedication drew the most attention as even KRQE News Channel 13 was there.

    “I always wanted to do this but just didn't know how I was going to go about it, or where I would do it,” Lopez said at the dedication.  Family members of his began to landscape their yards and a light came on in Lopez's head, “I will build a Korean War Memorial right here,” he said as he pointed toward to the ground in his front yard. “Here we are, several months later and I am so proud.” Lopez, with tears, specially thanked his wife and children for their help. His family was very involved at the dedication, emceeing the event and singing patriotic songs at the opening of the ceremony. The Lopez family offered refreshments for everyone following the ceremony.

    In all the day's events, there was one not more heartwarming than one at Los Alamitos Middle School.