ENMU Dedicating Military Wall

By Casey Peacock, Freedom Newspapers

Two years of work came to fruition with a Wall of Honor that recognizes Eastern New Mexico University students who have served in the armed forces. “The main reason (for the Wall of Honor) is to show our support for ENMU students who go out and fight,” said Tonya Hale, former student director of Nontraditional Student Education Services at ENMU. “I don’t think our men and women are recognized enough as having a life outside the military.”

“Struggles and setbacks have caused the project to take some time before it came to life. Regrouping and compromise led those involved to finally get to the stage where the wall could be dedicated,” said Esthela Banuelos, advisor to the NSES office. The Wall of Honor is displayed downstairs in the Campus Union Building in a public area. Names and information of those students who have served in the armed forces are engraved on a brass nameplate and displayed in a case that hangs on the wall. “It’s not just a memorial, it’s a dedication to living students,” Banuelos said. “It’s for all the veterans at Eastern, past and present. Currently there are 82 names displayed on the wall. The names have been submitted to the NSES office by friends and relatives. As additional names are received (106 are listed below), the wall will be updated each semester,” Banuelos said. “It’s going to be an ongoing project for the NSES office.”

Nominating a service member is easy and convenient. To submit a name for the wall, e-mail enmu.nts@enmu.edu. Please include the following information: name of the nominee as they wish it to appear on the plaque, military branch they served in, dates of military service and dates that the nominee attended ENMU as a student. For more information, contact NSES at 575-562-2434.