Where
- Fort Bayard Bataan Memorial Park
- Fort Bayard, New Mexico
- 3-mile honor march around the Fort Bayard Veterans National Cemetery and Historical Landmark
Event Details
When
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- XVII Annual Remembrance March
Schedule
- 8:00 – 9:30 AM · Registration & information
- 10:00 AM · Step off
- Plaque presentation after the walk
Registration
- Register and submit your honored veteran's photo by September 18: registration includes a Walk for the Heroes T-shirt, commemorative coin, inclusion of your honored veteran's photo in the memorial display, and a personalized memorial plaque presented after the walk.
- Register after September 18: registration includes a T-shirt and commemorative coin while supplies last.
- Online registration closes October 15. On-site registration is available October 17.
Why We Walk
Every veteran has a story—and every hero deserves to be remembered. The march begins at the Vietnam Memorial, continues through Fort Bayard National Cemetery, and returns to the park—three miles walked in remembrance of veterans whose service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Coming together matters to our community and to the families of those we honor. Complimentary food and drinks will be served after the walk.
Honor their service. Carry their memory.
Honor a Veteran
Submit their photo
Registered walkers may submit a photo of their veteran and headstone. The deadline to submit is September 18, 2026. Honored veterans appear on the memorial banner displayed during veterans' holidays.
Memorial plaques
Plaques are presented to families after the walk. If you have honored a veteran previously, we will still honor them, but will not provide another plaque, banner photo, or name on the T-shirt. Extra plaques are available for $40 — just let us know.
How One Photograph Started a Tradition
Walk for the Heroes began 17 years ago with a personal challenge. After undergoing two major back surgeries, Mike Lopez set a goal of walking from Hurley to Deming. The first event was called the James H. Pirtle Walk, honoring a soldier who was killed in Iraq.
Before the walk began, James's mother asked Mike to carry her son's photograph along the route. That simple request gave the walk its lasting purpose: to carry forward the memory of those who served and sacrificed.
Only four walkers participated that first year. The event had two sponsors—the Vietnam Veterans and Howie Morales—and Mike's wife followed the group with water and food. The Hurley-to-Deming walk continued for six years, but traffic eventually made the route unsafe. Over the years, the march moved through several locations, including Fort Bayard, Hurley to Santa Clara, and a route from WNMU to Boston Hill.
Today, Walk for the Heroes has found its permanent home at Fort Bayard. Hundreds of participants now walk from the Vietnam Memorial to Fort Bayard National Cemetery and back, supported by a growing community of sponsors. What began with one photograph and four walkers has become a lasting tradition of remembrance, gratitude, and community.
From Past Marches
Walk With Us
Register online and pay with a credit or debit card. Checks and money orders are also accepted and should be made payable to Veteran Resource Agency.
Online registration closes October 15. On-site registration will be available at Fort Bayard Bataan Memorial Park on October 17.
Register Online