Point of Contact for putting veteran information on this website:
Primary: Fran Witt, 496-3471, witt1610@fastwave.biz
Alternate: JR Turner, 524-6220, jr.turner@state.nm.us
Information on this website will be updated approximately every two weeks.
Index Links for this page:
Organizations/Groups:
City of Las Cruces Veterans Affairs Advisory Board (VAAB): The purpose of this Board is to advise the Mayor and City Council on matters affecting veterans and will propose solutions to alleviate or remedy the needs of local veterans. The VAAB meets the 4th Tuesday every month @ 0900 at the City Administration Building, 575 S. Alameda Blvd., 2nd floor, Room 214 (South end of Building).
Voting VAAB Members:
United Veterans Council (UVC) of Dona Ana County
PO Box 6201
Las Cruces, NM 88006-6201
The purpose of the United Veterans Council of Dona Ana County (UVC) shall be, when called upon, to represent the combined voice of the veterans organizations represented on the Council in the common interest and safeguarding veterans benefits in the state of New Mexico and our nation; and to promote Americanism for the common good of our Community, State, and Nation.
The UVC meets on the second Tuesday of every other month @ 6:30 PM. The meeting locations vary, depending upon the decision of the governing body at the beginning of each operating year which runs from 1 September thru 31 August of the following year. Currently, the meetings are conducted at VFW Post 3242. Meetings are open to anyone interested in veterans’ affairs.
Leadership of the UVC changes each year, and every member organization takes its turn at providing the President, Vice President, and Secretary. The UVC by-laws prohibit one organization from providing the leadership for more than one year.
Membership on the UVC consists of appointed representatives from all veterans organizations in Dona Ana County. The next UVC meeting is 8 July 2008.
Legion's
American Legion Riders, Chapter 4
PO Box 1241
Las Cruces, NM 88004-1241
American Legion Post 10
Joe Quesenberry Post
1185 E. Madrid
Las Cruces, NM 88001
526-9139
Meets the 2nd Monday every month at 6:30 PM
Bataan Veterans/Ex-POWs
527-1965
Call for meeting information
China-Burma-India Veterans
644-2314
Meets the 2nd Tuesday every month @ 9:00 AM at the IHOP (2900 N. Telshor Blvd.)
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 10 (DAV 10)
Mesilla Valley Chapter
PO Box 215
Las Cruces, NM 88004
Meets the 1st Tuesday every month @ 6:00 PM at American Legion Post 10
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 38 (DAV 38)
PO Box 903
Mesilla, NM 88046
(575) 532-9059
Meets the 3rd Saturday every month @ 9:00 AM at American Legion Post 10
Forty and Eight
Voiture Locale 641
1185 E. Madrid
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Marine Corps League
El Perro Diablo Detachment 478
PO Box 7322
Las Cruces, NM 88001
524-0369
Meets the 2nd Thursday every month @ 7:00 PM at American Legion Post 10
Military Officers Association of America
PO Box 743
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Meets the 3rd Wednesday every month except June, August & December
Meeting location varies between Picacho Hills Country Club and La Posta Restaurant
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Mesilla Valley Chapter 2004
(575) 312-4854
Call for meeting information
Military Order of World Wars
Mesilla Valley Chapter
525-3990
Meets the 4th Tuesday every month @ 6:00 PM at the Double Eagle
Reserve Officers Association
Chapter NM-005
522-4123
Call for meeting information
Special Forces Association
Chapter LXXX
644-3773
Meets the 3rd Saturday every month @ 10:00 AM at American Legion Post 10
Vietnam Veterans of America
Eduardo Marques Jr. Chapter 431
PO Box 6836
Las Cruces, NM 88006
Meets the 3rd Tuesday every month @ 7:00 PM at American Legion Post 10
Women Marine Association
Desert Chapter NM-2
524-4203
Meets the 2nd Thursday every month. Time/place vary.
VFW Post 3242
Ray McCorkle Post
2001 N. Mesquite St.
Las Cruces, NM 88001-1727
527-0443
Meets the 2nd Saturday @ 9:00 AM
VFW Post 4384
PO Box 3733
Anthony, NM 88021-3773
(575) 882-3926
VFW Post 6917
Mesilla Valley Post
7325 N. Main St.
Las Cruces, NM 88012
382-9703
Meets the 2nd Thursday every month @ 7:00 PM
VFW Post 10124
J.M. Carriere Post
960 S. Valley Dr.
Las Cruces, NM 88005-3077
526-5761
Meets the 3rd Saturday every month @9:30 AM
Important Phone Numbers:
| Las Cruces VA Medical Clinic |
522-1241 |
| Las Cruces VA Voc/Rehab |
522-2945 |
| VA (National) |
1-800-827-1000 |
| Albuquerque VA |
1-505-346-3780 |
| Albuquerque VA (Fax) |
1-800-346-4807 |
| Albuquerque VA Medical Center |
1-800-465-8262 |
| *VA Advocate (Zane Wells) |
Ext 2612 |
| Alamogordo VA Med Clinic |
437-7000 |
| El Paso VA Healthcare Facility |
1-800-672-3782 |
| *Managed Care/Fee Basis |
Ext 7593 |
| *Prescription Refills |
Ext 6110 |
| *Pharmacist |
Ext 7942 |
| *VA Advocate (Lara Stracken) |
915-564-6197 |
| NM Veterans Home (T or C) |
1-800-964-3976 |
| T or C VA Clinic (Ben Archer) |
894-7662 |
| T or C DAV Van (Gary Wood) |
744-4730/CP 642-5760 |
| WSMR ID Desk |
678-5961 |
| WSMR Road Block |
678-1178 |
| Social Security Office |
523-0771 |
| NMSU VA (Eva) Education |
646-4524 |
| DABCC VA (Becky) Education |
528-7244 |
| DAV Van (Rides – Barbara) |
373-9246/CP 642-5739 |
| County Tax Assessor (Exemptions) |
647-7400 |
| County Clerk (Register DD-214) |
647-7421 |
| CHAMPVA (Denver, CO) |
1-800-733-8387 |
| DFAS (Cleveland, OH) |
1-800-321-1080 |
| VA Education (Muskogee, OK) |
1-888-442-4551 |
| VA Debt Management |
1-800-827-0648 |
| VA Health Resources |
1-866-802-6819 |
| VA Pension Center |
1-877-294-6380 |
| VA Life Insurance |
1-800-669-8477 |
| VA Casualty Assistance |
1-800-897-8701 |
Important Veteran Website Links:
VA Health Care System
Albuquerque: New Mexico VA Health Care System
Community-Based Outpatient Clinic: 
Alamogordo: Alamogordo Clinic
Artesia: Artesia Clinic
Clovis: Clovis CBOC
Espanola: Espanola CBOC
Farmington: Farmington CBOC
Gallup: Gallup CBOC
Hobbs: Hobbs CBOC
Las Cruces: Las Cruces CBOC
Las Vegas: Las Vegas CBOC
Raton: Raton CBOC
Santa Fe: Santa Fe CBOC
Silver City: Silver City Clinic
Truth or Consequences: Truth or Consequences CBOC
Vet Centers: 
Albuquerque: Albuquerque Vet Center
Farmington: Farmington Vet Center Satellite
Las Cruces: Las Cruces Vet Center
Santa Fe: Sante Fe Vet Center
Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees http://usdr.org
National Association of Uniformed Services http://nmus.org
New Mexico Department of Veteran Services http://www.dvs.state.nm.us/
Local VA Organizations
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
1635 S. Don Roser Dr.
Las Cruces, NM 88011
(575) 522-1241
1-800-659-0311
(Fax) (575) 522-1497
EL Paso VA Healthcare Facility
5001 North Piedras
El Paso, TX 79930
1-800-672-3782
New Mexico Dept. Of Veterans Services
2024 East Griggs Ave.
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 524-6220
JR Turner and Virginia Bell (Veteran Service Officers)
VA Vocational Rehab Employment Division
2460 Locust St.
Las Cruces, NM
(575) 522-2945
Vet Center (Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
230 S. Water St.
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 523-9826
Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Veterans Benefits Administration
Albuquerque Regional Office: Albuquerque Regional Office
National Cemeteries
Fort Bayard: Fort Bayard National Cemetery
Santa Fe: Santa Fe National Cemetery
Ft. Bliss: http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/ftbliss.asp
Community Organizations & Associations
Blue Star Mothers
- Rio Grande Chapter
- Farmington Chapter
Gold Star Mothers
- NM contact: Patricia Merville
Operation Homefront
Silver Star Families
New Mexico Veterans Art
Women Veterans of New Mexico
USS New Mexico
Garrison Flag Information:
THE GARRISON FLAG IS RAISED AT VETERANS’ PARK ON TRADITIONAL AND PATRIOTIC AMERICAN HOLIDAYS. THE GARRISON FLAG IS NAMED FOR THE FLAG THAT FLEW OVER FORT McHENRY, MARYLAND DURING THE WAR OF 1812.
“During the War of 1812, the people of Baltimore were certain that the British would attack the city. Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. Everything was made ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore. But, there was no suitable flag to fly over the Star Fort. Major George Armistead, the commanding officer, desired "to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance." Major Armistead got his wish when General John Stricker and Commodore Joshua Barney ordered two flags, especially made for the garrison, from Mary Pickersgill, a well-known flag maker in Baltimore. She worked relentlessly on the heavy, woolen flags, one of which was to be the largest battle flag ever flown. It measured 30 feet wide by 42 feet long. The other flag, called a "storm flag," measured 17 feet by 25 feet. The larger of the two flags had stripes two feet wide and stars 24 inches from point to point. At that time, it was the practice to add one star and one stripe for each new state joining the Union. In 1814, the official United States flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes. The 30' X 42' flag was the one that Francis Scott Key saw on the morning of September 14, 1814. It inspired him to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner." Today, this flag is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.”
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT JAMES TURNER AT (575) 524-6220.
GARRISON FLAG DATES - 2008
January 1, 2008 New Year's Day
January 21, 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 18, 2008 President’s Day
March 23, 2008 Easter Sunday
May 11, 2008 Mother's Day
May 17, 2008 Armed Forces Day
May 26, 2008 Memorial Day (Half staff until noon)
June 14, 2008 Flag Day
July 4, 2008 4th of July/Independence Day
September 1, 2008 Labor Day
September 11, 2008 Patriot Day (Half staff all day)
September 17, 2008 Constitution Day
November 11, 2008 Veteran’s Day
November 27, 2008 Thanksgiving Day
December 7, 2008 Pearl Harbor Day (Half staff all day)
December 25, 2008 Christmas Day
Reveille at 8.00am, Retreat at 5.00pm at Veteran’s Park
Events/Photos:
Flag Day – June 14, 2008
The Flag Day ceremony held at Veterans Park this year was the first of its kind. Veteran Dan Banks (DAV Chapter 10) teamed with numerous Boys Scouts and Cub Packs, DAV 38, VFW 3242 and Vietnam Veterans of America-Chapter 431 to make this event possible. It was such a huge success that he hopes to continue to build on it each year making it a premier ceremony to attend on Flag Day. The Garrison Flag was raised as the main event of the ceremony, followed by guest speakers Marilyn Humphrey (The Flag Lady) and the Rev. David Humphrey. Thanks to all who made this event possible. (Photos by Mike Miyagishima – DAV Chapter 10 Photographer)
Veterans Appreciation Luncheon – El Caldito Soup Kitchen
This annual veterans’ appreciation luncheon is also held on June 14th every year at the El Caldito Soup Kitchen at 999 West Amador Ave. The event is sponsored by Curtis Rosemond, Manager of the Walmart on Walton St. A huge thanks goes to Mr. Rosemond for his support of our veterans. Equally, a huge thanks to the volunteers who prepared and served the food. (Photos by Mike Miyagishima – DAV Chapter 10 Photographer)
Inquires & Requests
Please direct your comments and inquiries to:
Councillor Dolores Archuleta
City of Las Cruces
P.O. Box 20000, Las Cruces, NM 88004
Email darchuleta@las-cruces.org
Or use the link “Give us your input” at the left. |
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