The Sandoval County Historical Society and the Sandoval County Commission through the original Glory, Praise, Homage—Tribute to our Heroes was dedicated on May 28, 2016, to honor the Sandoval County Veterans and their families who sacrificed for our freedom. After two years in the making, a one-of-a kind pictorial display showcasing over 1,500 photos recognizing over 5,700 heroes and their legacy from the U.S. Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War I, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War eras were dedicated with 35 panels with photos of veterans who served the United States of America as scouts, soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guard and merchant marines. The panels were placed at the Sandoval County Administrative Building and can be viewed during their hours of operation.
Phase 1 was sponsored by the Sandoval County Historical Society, spear-headed by volunteer Retired Colonel Dave C’deBaca and made a reality by the tireless efforts and selfless dedication of many volunteers throughout the County, members of the Sandoval County Historical Society, along with Sandoval County Government and other Memorial Contributors. See Veterans Dedication Flyer, May 28, 2016.
On July 7, 2021, the Sandoval County Historical Society & Museum entered into an agreement with the Sandoval County Government to further broaden the scope of what was accomplished in Phase 1. Through a $5,000 grant funded by Katherine Bruch, District 1 Commissioner, our contract aimed to further honor our heroes from the Tribute (referred to as Phase 1) by duplicating the 35 panels. The condensed panels are now also located at the Sandoval County Historical Society & Museum. While the County is open weekly, SCHS&M is open on Tuesdays & Thursdays half days, by appointment, in addition to some weekends, thus both reaching a broader audience and giving broader access to view the project. Phase 2 added 12 new panels and increased the number of photographs (including headstones where actual photos were not available) from 1500 to 1753. A spreadsheet has been created identifying 5,979 names, their home region, the era they served and the panel where their name and/or photo can be found (if available). 135 veterans with metals are also identified, along with their photos.
Initially, the project was shared via DVD’s that were distributed countywide to all the communities, school districts, Native American Pueblos, Navajo, and Jicarilla Veteran contracts and/or their families. The entire project is now accessible on our website at Sandovalhistory.org, allowing educators, pueblos, communities, or individual families to keep their loved ones’ stories alive.
Our research expanded to include collecting pictures, documents, images, military honors and identifying POW’s and stories of men and women who fought, suffered and many who died in their effort for freedom—a legacy that should be remembered.
The budget expenditure totaled $5,037 from the funds from the County. The SCHS&M volunteer hours, services and materials contributed including use of our facility and miscellaneous expenses totaled an additional expense of $6,660, which was all done by volunteers, and no one was paid for their services.
Our mission on this project was to share the past and preserve the memory and legacy of our veteran heroes from generation to generation. Thanks to Katherine Bruch, District 1 Commissioner, and this partnership, we were able to achieve this and more. Thank you to Commissioner Bruch for her support.
Veterans Dedication Flyer
Recognition of Volunteers
Phase II
The second phase of this project far exceeded the funding source and was made possible by the following volunteers: Cynthia Spence, Lorraine Dominguez Stubblefield, Gail Sacharczuk, Geeta Raju, Ernie Jaskolski, Alfredo Valdez, David Gardner, Theresa Baca-Aragon, Patricia Chavez-Mast, Marc Liebert & Paul Liebert all SCHS&M members. Special thanks to Henry Miller, Sandoval County Vietnam Veterans, Vice President, Santa Ana Pueblo Tribal Government, (Wi-Fi access), Catherine Martinez, (photographer), Carl Jackson and Rachel Jaramillo, (photographer assistants), Andrew Jaskolski, (website updates) and Chris Romero, (contracted webmaster). State Records Center & Archives, Santa Fe, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church- Bernalillo (WW 11 list of veterans), Santa Fe National Cemetery, Bernalillo, Pena Blanca, Algodones, Ponderosa and Placitas Cemeteries