A Pinning Ceremony for Mr. John Thomas, Jr., an 83-year-old Army Vietnam Veteran, was conducted on September 23rd, 2026, at Beehive Homes of Bosque Farms, in Bosque Farms, NM. The ceremony was held as part of a VFW Daniel D. Fernandez Post 9676 partnership with Ambercare Hospice, and their program for recognizing Veterans. Mr. Thomas served in the Army from 1967 to 1973, attaining the rank of Captain, U.S. Army. He served as a helicopter pilot, flying  and operating, Cobra, Huey, and Low Observation (LOH) helicopters. He flew helicopters in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, with D Troop, 3^rd SQDN, 4^th CAV, 25^thINF DIV.

Among those In Attendance were Chet Pino, Post Commander;  Frank Gurule, Adjutan; John Tull, Post member; Lennie Gurule, Ambercare Volunteer and Veterans Tribute Coordinator; and family members Whitney Mendoza, daughter, and her husband Joshua Mendoza.

Valencia County News-Bulletin

 

Veterans Day is a day set aside to acknowledge those men and women who have served and are presently serving in all branches of the U.S. Military in defense of our country and in preservation of our freedoms.  The Valencia County News-Bulletin will again honor Valencia County Veterans and active duty Valencia County service members by posting their photographers in the News-Bulletin's Veterans Day Section to be published on the Thursday before Veterans Day.  Please consider honoring your veterans or active duty service member by submitting a photograph.  If you have already submitted a photo and information for your veteran or active duty service member, the News-Bulletin has them on file and will publish them again this year.  The deadline to submit photos will be announced.

Link to Form for submitting photos