By ADELITA C. MEAD, Veteran and Cerro VFW Lifetime Member

The new school year at Questa Jr./Sr. High School began with a troubling void where a piece of local history used to be. On the first day of school, my son—a Senior at Questa Junior Senior High School—came home and informed me that the 9/11 memorial mural in the locker room area near the cafeteria had been painted over. This mural, created by longtime Art teacher Mr. Albert Chacón, was a piece of our district’s history. I was one of his students, and I graduated along with his daughter Amy in 1996.

On Sept. 11, 2025, while substituting at the school, I saw the wall myself. A once-powerful image commemorating one of the most defining events in modern American history had been reduced to a blank white surface. The words “Never Forget”—painted carefully, behind the staircase—were gone. Ironically, these are the same stairs that still bear motivational words encouraging students to rise, persist, and remember their values.

That day, while teaching history, I spoke to each class about the importance of remembering 9/11. For me, this is not a distant historical event. I was on active duty in the U.S. Army, assigned to the Pentagon as a photographer for the Army Chief of Staff. On the morning of the attacks, I was on leave in New Mexico and had boarded a flight in Denver bound for Reagan National Airport. My plane was grounded in Albuquerque. Six days later, I returned to the Pentagon to assist my unit and the FBI with documenting recovery efforts.

My husband Korey, then assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company at Fort Lee, Virginia, was also deployed to the Pentagon, where his unit was tasked with searching for human remains and personal effects. I spent four years and thousands of hours working in the Pentagon’s E-Ring—the very area destroyed on 9/11. Had I not traveled home to attend a wedding, I might have been among the victims. Sadly, thousands of Americans perished that day in 2001, including 184 at the Pentagon and on flight 77, and 2,753 more died in New York City, and 40 more in the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Terrorists not included.

This is why the disappearance of that mural matters. Not symbolically—but personally, not only to me, but to Veterans and American families, especially those here in Questa, Cerro, Costilla, Amalia, El Rito, and beyond, who lived through this era and carry its weight.

Mystery of the Lost Mural

In early Sept, I approached Principal Ronnie Miller with my concerns. His response made it clear that he had no knowledge of the decision to cover the mural, nor an understanding of how deeply its loss would impact Veterans and community members.

At the Sept. 17, 2025 facilities meeting, I brought the issue to the attention of the School Board, and all members appeared genuinely surprised. When one asked how this could have happened, Superintendent John Maldonado stated that it was a “miscommunication” between custodial staff and administration during summer maintenance. The mural had simply been accidentally covered with multiple coats of paint. Or was it intentional?

Even if accidental, the lack of communication, accountability, or public acknowledgment has been troubling. No notice was given to parents. No explanation to the school board. No apology to the community.

When I spoke again with Principal Miller and Superintendent Maldonado recently, both stated they had no immediate plans to replace the mural. Miller said he did not have any ideas as to how to “fix” it, nor had he spoken to the current art teacher yet. Maldonado also said he had no plans to correct the problem, due to pending future renovations, repairs, or new construction—including potential consolidation of Alta Vista Elementary Intermediate School with QJSHS.

While long-term planning is important, this is not a long-term issue.
This is a matter of respect, history, and community identity.
A blank white wall sends the opposite message of “Never Forget”.
Why We Need Action Now — Not “After Renovations”

Our district prides itself on honoring Veterans, engaging the community, and teaching students the importance of civic responsibility. Removing a 9/11 memorial—even accidentally—requires an immediate and meaningful response. Waiting years until construction plans finalize is simply not acceptable.

We are a community with a high population of Veterans and military families. Our students deserve to see their history reflected in the school walls—not erased.

The mural was not merely art.
It was a teaching tool.
A memorial.
A reminder of sacrifice, unity, and resilience.
Delaying its replacement risks sending a message our district does not intend:
That some history can be forgotten when it becomes inconvenient, or an embarrassing moment that nobody wants to own up to.

A Path Forward — Possible Solutions

The solution does not have to be complicated or expensive. Any of these steps would be far better than allowing the wall to remain empty indefinitely.
I propose the following immediate actions for community and board consideration:

Rebuild trust in Leadership Keep the public informed about the progress on the restoration, and proudly reveal the project once completed. I believe strongly in holding our leaders accountable and in the importance of bringing concerns forward in a transparent and constructive manner. Do so in good faith, without instilling the fear of retaliation in staff or students. Encourage respect, responsibility, gratitude, and integrity.

Fly the flags proudly, replace them when they get weathered and worn. When you have a moment of silence, specifically state what it is for. Don’t assume students don’t notice- they do. Celebrate the history of our Country, don’t erase it.

“Never Forget” Is More Than a Phrase
I love our students and the staff at Questa Junior Senior High School. Returning to substitute this year has reminded me how special this community is. The students are bright, respectful, and curious. They deserve to walk hallways that reflect the values we teach them.

A plain white wall cannot be the final word on the mural that once stood there.
Our students—and our community—deserve better.

They deserve to be reminded of America’s promise to “Never Forget.”
Update: At the December 17 Questa School Board meeting, the Superintendent briefed the board on his plans to repaint the mural, on plywood, so it can be moved if needed. He said they ordered supplies and the Art teacher is going to start working on it before she retires at the end of the school year.

Restore the original mural using a photograph. If an image of the original artwork can be located, students in art classes, under supervision, could repaint it as a project. This would honor both the mural and the legacy of Mr. Chacón.

Commission an artist to recreate or reimagine the mural. Whether it is Mr. Chacón himself or another local artist, the district could commission a piece that appropriately honors 9/11 and its significance.

Install a large printed reproduction immediately. While planning or painting is underway, the empty wall should not remain blank. A high-quality printed mural or mounted display can be installed quickly and affordably.

Invite Veterans and community members to collaborate. QISD policy encourages parent and public involvement in committees. This issue should be addressed transparently, with input from Veterans organizations, families, and community leaders.

Publicly acknowledge the mistake. If it indeed was a mistake, the leadership of the schools should offer a simple, yet sincere apology to the QISD School District, and to Mr. Albert Chacón for the failure in communication and judgement. 9/11 was not a conspiracy; it was a national tragedy, and we have to honor the victims and the Veterans who were subsequently sent to fight the war on terror for decades in Afghanistan and Iraq. Veterans like my husband and myself. Those who wear the uniform today, and for future veterans that continue to emerge from our very own Questa High School and chiefly, those who died in service to our Nation.