Farmington Bench donated by local family honors National Guardsmen

From the Farmington Daily Times - A local Farmington family is doing its part to honor New Mexico veterans. The family of Steve and Diana Rogge helped honor the New Mexico National Guard with a bench at the All-Veterans Plaza in Farmington. While the plaza was designed to honor all New Mexico veterans, it fails to recognize National Guard veterans. Donor Diana Rogge said it is important to her family that all branches of the military are equally honored. "We thought it was a disservice that they have nothing to honor them." Master Sgt. Louie Estrada said it was a great feeling when he found out the Rogge family wanted to honor the National Guard. "I have been in the National Guard for 20 years and I have never seen civilians go out of their way like this," Estrada said. Rogge said her family purchased the bench to match the rest of the benches in the All-Veterans Plaza with the approval of the city of Farmington. The bench was installed, with a dedication ceremony to follow this fall. The dedication ceremony will be informal, Estrada said. Read more

Farmington Bench donated by local family honors National Guardsmen