House Memorial 9

HOUSE MEMORIAL 9

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Luis M. Terrazas

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING JANUARY 29, 2025 THE FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL "GRANT COUNTY DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

 

     WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its mining, ranching and art communities; blend of Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures; blue skies with three hundred sixty days of sunshine per year; vast mountain landscapes; and small-town atmosphere; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is the gateway to the vast Gila wilderness; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county's largest city and county seat, Silver City, is the only municipality in New Mexico still operating under the territorial charter issued by the legislative assembly of the territory of New Mexico in 1878; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is the richest county for mining in New Mexico, producing numerous precious metals, including copper, an essential element of green energy and electric vehicles, which is mined from the third-largest open-pit copper mine in the world; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is home to western New Mexico university, established in 1893 as New Mexico's only applied liberal arts and sciences university; and

     WHEREAS, western New Mexico university leads the state in designing education and training programs specific to the evolving needs of a globalized economy, and as one of the original Hispanic-serving institutions in the United States, western New Mexico university is the southwest's hub of Hispanic traditions, languages and music, while providing life-changing education and training opportunities to Hispanic students from across the globe; and

     WHEREAS, the western New Mexico university museum holds the world's foremost collection of ancient Mimbres pottery; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its true west history that includes prehistoric Native Americans; the Chiricahua Apache, including Geronimo and Victorio, two famous Apache leaders; and iconic wild west figures such as Billy the Kid, lawman Dan Tucker and Madam Millie; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is where, in 1866, company B of the one hundred twenty-fifth United States colored infantry regiment, known as the buffalo soldiers, was established at Fort Bayard; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is honored as the home of many veterans, and Grant county shares New Mexico's heavy burden of the members of New Mexico's two hundredth coast artillery regiment, many of whom were subjected to the Bataan death march, including the late Representative Thomas Foy; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county straddles the Continental Divide national scenic trail at six thousand to seven thousand feet, providing cool summers, as well as uninterrupted views of the Mexican border to the south; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county hosts the annual tour of the Gila, New Mexico's premier cycling stage race, which attracts national and international teams and boosts awareness and use of the trail of the Mountain Spirits national scenic byway; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county is home to significant outdoor recreation areas, including the Catwalk recreation area, City of Rocks state park, the trail of the Mountain Spirits national scenic byway, Bear canyon reservoir and lake Roberts; and

     WHEREAS, Grant county has many well-known festivals, including the blues festival, clay festival, tamal fiesta y mas, festival of the written word and Southwest print fiesta; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's current lieutenant governor, Howie Morales, is from Grant county;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 29, 2025 be declared the forty-ninth annual "Grant County Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to members of the board of county commissioners of Grant county.

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