HOUSE MEMORIAL 37

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

William B. Pratt and Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez and

 Eliseo Lee Alcon and Harry Garcia and Debra M. Sariñana

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 11, 2019 "MILITARY AND VETERANS DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, the United States was founded on the belief that Americans are guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and

     WHEREAS, this freedom that Americans enjoy does not come without a price; and

     WHEREAS, this freedom is protected by those who have served in the United States armed forces; and

     WHEREAS, brave military men and women have sacrificed to preserve and protect the American way of life from all enemies, foreign and domestic; and

     WHEREAS, throughout the history of New Mexico, military service has been important to generations of residents; and

     WHEREAS, during pre-statehood territorial days, farmers and landowners helped the union army stop the spread of the confederacy at the battle of Glorieta during this nation's Civil War; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans have readily answered the nation's call to arms — from World War I through the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has consistently ranked among the states with the highest per capita rates of service; and

     WHEREAS, with five military bases within New Mexico's borders today, eleven thousand active duty personnel, more than five thousand reserve and national guard members and a total of one hundred fifty-six thousand veterans, military and veteran presence continues to be a vital part of the fabric of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, veterans have a major impact on New Mexico's economy; and

     WHEREAS, veterans account for one billion five hundred million dollars ($1,500,000,000) of benefits, services and expenditures by the United States department of veterans affairs in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the average income of a veteran in New Mexico is forty thousand dollars ($40,000) a year, which is seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000) more than that of non-veteran wage earners in the state; and

     WHEREAS, there are twenty-five thousand veteran-owned businesses in New Mexico, accounting for nearly six billion five hundred million dollars ($6,500,000,000) in sales; and

     WHEREAS, in short, after they have served this country, veterans continue to serve New Mexico's economy;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 11, 2019 be declared "Military and Veterans Day" in the house of representatives to acknowledge and honor the service, sacrifice and overall impact of the nation's armed forces personnel and veterans in New Mexico as these men and women have rendered the highest service any American can offer the country; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the state adjutant general and the secretary of veterans' services.

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