Stephen Betts and his son Miroslav Betts run the last stretch of the Independence Day Flag Carry from Santa Fe National Ceremony to White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
The flag flies before the somber background of gravestones at 3 a.m. Tuesday at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Photo by Maire O’Neill
When a small group of people gathered at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on the July 4 at 3 a.m. it was in fact the beginning of a huge patriotic endeavor to honor veterans of the United States military. A United States flag which was flown over the cemetery July 3 and had been flown in May over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery was to be carried in a military backpack by a handful of runners from Santa Fe to White Rock, a distance of 33 miles.
The flag carry was the inspiration of Stephen Betts and was brought to fruition with the help of his wife, Becca, sons Benjamin and Miroslav, daughter Sarah Beckstead and her husband, Eric. Becca Betts drove ahead of the group and a Los Alamos Fire Department truck followed behind as well as two other support vehicles. LAFD Chief Troy Hughes, Battalion Chief Steve DeWald, Capt. James Thwaits and Firefighter Mike Paxson rode their bicycles along with the runners. Stephen Betts and David Parkinson ran the whole 33 miles while Miroslav Betts, Brad Skidmore, Travis Moulton, Patty Burnside, Steve Harris and Devan Vest ran most of the way.
“I grew up with a great love for our country,” said Betts. “ It is wonderful blessing to live in a free land with many liberties. Our freedom has come at a great cost to many of our fellow Americans who have given and continue to give their lives for us.”
Betts said there are many people in his family and extended who have served and sacrificed from the Revolutionary War to today.
“My father served in the Air Force, my father-in-law served in the Army. I have many uncles, cousins, nephews and friends who have served or are serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Both of my brothers served in the Army and my son Benjamin currently serves in the Army Reserves,” Betts said. “My neighbor Roger Rasmussen, who recently passed away, served in the Army and was part of the Manhattan project at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A former Bishop of mine served in the Navy during Vietnam. His plane was shot down and he spent six years as a prisoner of war before he was released to come home.”
Betts said he wanted to do something that would honor these people and all others who have served and are serving our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.
“Since we have family members and friends buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery I thought it would be nice to fly a flag there and carry it to Los Alamos County for a flag raising on the July 4th. The White Rock Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is allowing us this year to join their long standing July 4 flag raising ceremony. They also suggested including veterans in the last leg of the run, which will make this very meaningful.”
Betts said he reached out to Jim Nesmith of the Veterans Organization at Los Alamos National Laboratory who helped coordinate the LAFD assistance with Chief Hughes. Nesmith also provided a flag which has been flown at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa, which is the primary base of operations for U.S. Africa Naval Command in the Horn of Africa.
The ceremony at the cemetery Tuesday morning was a quiet, moving and reverent affair. The few passersby shortly after 3 a.m. may have wondered what the four vehicles and their occupants were doing parked in the dark close to the main entrance. Betts led the group in prayer and the flag was quietly taken down, folded and placed in the military backpack by Benjamin Betts. The group of runners took turns carrying the other flag. They headed up Paseo de Peralta and turned onto the Old Taos Highway while it was still dark. There was no wind and they had been running 90 minutes encountering almost no signs of life before even the birds began to wake up.
Miroslav Betts who is a 2017 Los Alamos High School graduate said he was running to support and give thanks to the veterans and all the soldiers who have taken part in making this country a free land.
“Personally, I wasn’t born in the United States but I am grateful that our country is free and that we are able to choose what we want,” he said. “To show my gratitude for what they have done, I am running for them on the Fourth of July to celebrate what they have done for our country.”
As daylight revealed a partly-cloudy sky, the group made its first stop in Tesuque before crossing onto the frontage road and heading on to Pojoaque where they took another short break and were joined by some new participants. From there they continued their arduous trek past San Ildefonso Pueblo and uphill towards the White Rock turnoff. Chief Hughes later commented that he was amazed at the speed maintained during the uphill stretch.
On arrival in White Rock, the group proceeded to the corner of Rover Blvd. and Grand Canyon where they were met by a group of cheering supporters including Eric and Sarah Beckstead.
“On the 4th of July, we tend to focus on the Founding Fathers and those who risked and gave their lives to create this country. That’s important, and we should celebrate them. But over the 241 years that this country has existed, it has been the servicemen and women in the armed forces that have preserved the freedoms we gained at the beginning,” Sarah Beckstead said. “ I think it’s a powerful reminder of what we’re really celebrating to see the people, who have voluntarily put their lives on the line for their country, carry the symbol of the freedom that they are protecting.”
Her husband, Eric, said the actions of the flag-carry group hold a powerful symbolism.
“By starting at the National Cemetery, they honor and act on behalf of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country. They act vicariously in carrying the flag for those who cannot do so anymore,” he said. “Then rather than carry it the whole way, these men and women chose to step aside and allow our veterans to finish carrying the burden. It’s been said that freedom is never free and this provides us an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made for our nation in the past, present and future.”
The flag was removed from the backpack and presented to 1Lt. James Hamm and a group of military veterans who carried for the final leg to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where the flag-raising ceremony was held.
Betts said he would like to thank the Arlington National Cemetery, the Santa Fe National Cemetery, the Los Alamos National Laboratory Veterans Group, LAFD and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for helping make the event possible.
“Most of all we thank our veterans, our current service men and women and all their families for the sacrifices they make for us, our freedoms and our country,” he said.
Runners warm up shortly before the flag carry starts Tuesday morning shortly after 3 a.m. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes, right, and Battalion Chief Steve DeWald at the beginning of the flag carry. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Stephen Betts, left, and his son Benjamin fold the flag. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
First stop of the morning is at Tesuque before daylight after running from Santa Fe National Cemetery along the Old Taos Highway and Bishop’s Lodge Road. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
The flag carry group gathers for a quick photo prior to leaving the Cities of Gold Casino parking area. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Department participants prepare to head out from Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Runners head down N.M. 4 to White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Benjamin Betts removes the flag from the military backpack to present to 1Lt. James Hatt veterans gathered at the corner of Rover Blvd. and Grand Canyon. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
James Hatton, left, receives the flag from Benjamin Betts. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Stephen and Rebecca Betts salute the flag as it is raised during a ceremony at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in White Rock at 10 a.m. following the long journey from Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Boy Scouts unfold the flag before raising it in front of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in White Rock. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
The flag is reverently raised by Boy Scouts. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Mission accomplished: The flag flies over high and proud. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
