Mora County Notebook: Mora native gets recognized at legislature

Manuel Montoya, a Mora native and graduate of Mora High School has received yet another honor. He had graduated with a double doctorate from Emory University and has come back to New Mexico to be a professor at UNM and serve the people here.

Recently at the state legislature’s UNM Day Manuel along with a few other faculty were recognized on the floor of the house and senate for their distinctive work at UNM.

UNM President David Schmidly praised Montoya at the event.

“Dr. Manuel Montoya, a native son of Mora, New Mexico and a product of the Mora Public School System who went on to excel at UNM as both a Truman Scholar and Rhodes Scholar who returned to teach as an assistant professor of Finance and International Management in the Anderson School of Management, thereby giving back to both his alma mater UNM and the students and the State of New Mexico,” Schmidly said. “Manuel, we are proud of you.”

Fly flags for Presidents Day
The Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 1131 is encouraging the citizens of Mora Valley to show their patriotism by flying their United States Flags on Presidents Day, which is on Monday.

Fly the United States Flag on that day to honor all of our presidents from the past and the one we have at the present time.

In 1968, the 90th congress decided to create a uniform system for federal holidays and it shifted three existing holidays to Mondays. This took effect in 1971. Originally the holiday honoring President Lincoln was observed on Feb. 12, his birthday. The George Washington holiday was observed on Feb. 22, his birthday. Since their birthdays were so close, Congress decided to combine them on the date closest to George Washington’ birthday which was the third Monday in February and it was called “Washington’s Birthday Observed.”  Since Lincoln was the great president who reshaped our country, they eventually decided to call it Presidents Day. Congress still fussed over the fact that all of our presidents did not deserve to have a day but that concern faded and the name Presidents Day remained. The merchants found that to be a great time to have Presidents Day Sales and used that long weekend to have sales.

Some places still honor the actual birthdays of Lincoln and Washington by pageants and reenactments of their contribution to our history, especially at their monuments and places of birth.

Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732 and Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809.

I was in my little country school on the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birthday.  Our teacher had us put on a program honoring George Washington’s birthday, and all of the parents came to our little school to see the program. We did not forget that day.

As we think of the two great men and many other presidents who have contributed much to our country we should honor them by flying our flags on their special day.

Ruth Fort is a Mora County correspondent. She may be reached at (575) 387-6523 or ruthfortchacon@yahoo.com.