Coming to Historic Old Town

Historic Old Town

145th Memorial Day Remembrance in Old Town May 24th

Special Event Honors Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

On Friday, May 24th from Noon - 9 p.m. Historic Old Town will become a place of remembrance as we honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who gave their lives for their country, and show our gratitude for the freedoms for which they fought. Live music and dance featuring several local groups will begin at noon after the flag ceremony, with Ballet en Fuego taking the stage at 6 p.m., and Grammy® nominee Mickey Cruz performing at 7 p.m.

Headed by Frances Lujan, Ballet en Fuego is a professional dance company that combines traditional with contemporary dance techniques. The troupe has performed both nationally, and internationally in Japan, Puerto Rico the Dominican Republic, Canada and Spain. Their vibrant choreography and costuming never fails to thrill audiences in locales far and wide.

Mickey Cruz brings his mixed heritage (Filipino and Mayan Indian) and his experience as an orphan who raised himself on the mean streets of Central America and Mexico to craft a musical career that has taken him from being a street performer at age seven to the heights of the world of Grammy nominations. He has performed extensively throughout the southwest at many of the hottest clubs and casinos, as well as on big stages like the Legends Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a style that brings Cumbio, Salsa and Reggae sounds to the stage, audiences everywhere respond to his talents.

Originally called "Decoration Day," Memorial Day began after the Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives on both sides in the war that took such a terrible toll on our nation. The holiday was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11: "The day is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

On Memorial Day the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

In 1868, this flag ceremony would have taken place in Old Town. The original flagpole, located near the middle of the historic Old Town Plaza, was the tallest flagpole west of the Mississippi at that time.  Our flag could clearly be seen flying proudly overhead when entering Albuquerque from any direction. The flags on the historic Old Town Plaza have observed this tradition for 145 years and will fly proudly over the Plaza this year to in memory of those lost while fighting for our freedom.