Local veterans stand to be recognized at last year’s Veteran’s Day ceremony in Socorro.
File photo

Socorro’s annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony will have a new addition to the ceremonies this year, a flyover from two Socorro Civil Air Patrol planes.

The ceremony, set for 11 a.m. on Friday Nov. 11 at Isidro Baca Park, will recognize all veterans present by their service.

“Veterans are people who stood up, put on the uniform and were willing to put their lives on the line for our freedom and our country, and that is definitely worth being recognized,” said master of ceremonies Lt. Col. Dave Finley with the Civil Air Patrol.

The ceremony will begin with a presentation of colors from the Civil Air Patrol, followed by the national anthem and an invocation.

The confirmed list of speakers includes Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker; Col. David Mitchell, U.S. Army; and keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, Civil Air Patrol.

Smith retired as a colonel from the Air Force in 2000 after 26 years of service. He has been a member of Civil Air Patrol since 2005 and is a volunteer teacher and mentor in CAP. As a CAP pilot he has served almost exclusively as a CAP Commander at the Squadron, Wing, Region and National levels.

The speakers will be followed by a rifle salute from the DAV Honor Guard, bagpipe playing, taps and the flyover.

Finley said organizers decided it would be an appropriate time to have a CAP flyover, because Smith is the immediate past national commander of CAP.

Cathy Cook | El Defensor Chieftain Editor