National Guard Returns to Gallup

It has been a sad sight to make the curve to Hasler Valley Road for approximately the last five years and see the National Guard Armory empty and barren. This sentiment was echoed on Saturday, September 9, 2017 by several high-ranking officials of the Army National Guard at the Grand Re-Opening Ceremonies for our Gallup facility.

The 1115th Transportation

Company of the Army National

Guard has returned home to their Gallup facility!

It has taken a long time and much hard work to make this happen. In the autumn of 2014, City of Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney, Veterans Committee Chairman Joe Zecca, and Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Hershey Miyamura made a trip to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to meet with the Board of Directors of the New Mexico National Guard. These three men were on the agenda for the Board Meeting to make their presentation to the Board of Gallup’s concern for the local Armory. They obviously presented a good case for the successful return of The Guard to our fair city.

During this Saturday event, Gallup hosted some heavy brass with BG Thomas P. Bump, 2LT Jordan Verslues, LTC Pia G. Romero, CPT Patrick L. Riley, 1SG Julian P. Chino, and LTC (ret) Benjamin Yazzie, PhD. All these officers participated in the ceremonies to welcome The 1115th Transportation Company back to the Gallup National Guard Armory. Several of these officers had served in Gallup with the National Guard when the Hasler Valley Gallup Armory was first built, and in years after when the Armory was in full use. BG Thomas P. Bump even

served in Gallup when The Guard was at the old By Sandra McKinney National Guard Returns to Gallup Armory which now functions as the Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Facility for the City of Gallup. Formalities opened with a greeting by the Master of Ceremonies, 2LT Jordan Verslues and then the posting of the colors by members of Gallup’s Veterans Helping Brigadier General Thomas P. Bump speaking to the gathered crowd. Veterans, followed by important words from each of the officers. The respect between the veterans and the members of the National Guard was truly evident. Any time you have members of the military together, young or old, the camaraderie is always apparent. Military is military; and they certainly have a common bond. The VHV also presented a 21-gun salute following the rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It brought great pride to the Gallup community to hear the members of the United States Army National Guard say how happy they are to be back in Gallup. They spoke of previous years when the Armory was in full swing, and how the community supported their efforts with pot luck meals, deployment gatherings, and welcome home ceremonies, when the company returned to Gallup; and they look forward to the same type of events. Many of the current members of The 1115th Transportation Company are Virgil Gatewood - Performing Native Blessing enlisted from Gallup and our surrounding area. They are doubly happy to be based back in Gallup. The pinnacle of the Children and National Guard Members Participate in the Native Blessing ceremonies was at the closing when our Native Spiritual Leader and Vietnam Veteran, Virgil Gatewood performed a traditional native blessing of the building and all in attendance. Gallup WELCOMES HOME The 1115th Transportation Company to 1480 Hasler Valley Rd, Gallup, New Mexico. It will be an honor to see the many uniforms once again in Gallup!