The Village of Questa staff, alongside volunteers led by village councilwoman Louise Gallegos, are organizing Questa’s 19th Annual Healing Field event to honor American military veterans from Questa, Cerro, Costilla, Amalia, Red River, and San Cristobal.
The Healing Field began back in 2004, with then Mayor Charlie Gonzales. Mayor Gonzales and Village Administrator Brent Jaramillo attended a conference in Indiana the previous year, where they learned about a nationwide project aimed to recognize fallen first responders from the 911 attacks. This sparked their interest in starting the Healing Field in Questa.
Since then, the Healing Field has showcased 1,000 United States flags on Questa property every Memorial Day weekend. The use of the field is generously donated by Debbie Rael. Additionally, John Rael works diligently to water the ground to ensure they’re ready for the annual event. Additionally, Chevron and ENTACT assist with the infrastructure for the fields as well as the generators used to light the fields at night.
The flags are erected on Wednesday and fly through Memorial Day to the following Tuesday. Questa is one of the hundreds of locations throughout the country who hosts these events, according to the healingfield.org website.
“This breathtaking event requires many hands to make this field a reality every year and the committee is dependent on volunteers. Volunteers are the heart and soul of this event because they put so much of their heart, time and talent into what they do year after year. Without volunteers this annual event would die out,” explained Gallegos in an interview with Questa del Rio News.
The Village sells sponsorships to anyone who would like to financially assist the event. Anyone interested in volunteering to assist with the erection of the Healing Fields or anyone interested in sponsoring the event can contact the Village of Questa at (575) 586-0694.
Sponsorship Levels
• $100 Individual Sponsorship: Program sponsor listing
• $250 Red Sponsorship Supporter: Program sponsor listing, sponsor two flags, commemorative photo
• $500 White Sponsorship Supporter: Red Sponsor Plus two front row seats to the Healing Field Memorial Event.
• $750 Blue Sponsorship Support: White Sponsorship plus two additional seats at the Healing Field Memorial Event (4 total), Commemorative Flag with authentic certificate.
• $1000 Stars and Stripes Sponsorship Support. Blue Sponsor plus commemorative flag flown at healing field with authentic certificate and display frame.
