Miguel Perez, left, and Stephen Betts take down the United States flag at 3 a.m. July 4 at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe for the Second Annual Independence Day Flag Carry to White Rock. Event organizers Stephen and Becca Betts said the flag has this year been flown at the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Fort Bayard National Cemetery and at a flag raising ceremony at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The flag was flown at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery prior to the first flag carry last July 4. Stephen Betts said the flag carry is held to thank all veterans, current service men and women and their families for the sacrifices they make ‘for us, our freedoms and our country’. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Folding the flag before placing it in a backpack, from left, Miguel Perez, Jeremy Conlin and Stephen Betts. The ceremony was quiet, reverent and moving to those present. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Flag carry participants, from left, Jeremy Conlin, Miguel Perez. Stephen Betts and Ben Stone take a momemt to pray before setting off from the National Cemetery to White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Department support vehicle driver Firefighter Zach Shriver, center, discusses the route with Stephen Betts, left, and Miguel Perez. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
LAFD Capt. Michael Cayton, left, and Deputy Chief Steve Dawald set off for White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Support car driver Becca Betts gets ready to distribute refreshments during Wednesday’s flag carry from the National Cemetery in Santa Fe to White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Runners Brad Skidmore, left, and Greg Skidmore join the group at 6:15 a.m. in Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Department cyclists, from left, Capt. Michael Cayton, Division Chief James Thwaits and Deputy Chief Steve Dawald chat with Stephen Betts Wednesday morning prior to leaving Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Flag carry event participants gather in Pojoaque Wednesday morning on their way to White Rock. Participants in the event include, Stephen Betts, Miguel Perez, Jeremy Conlin, David Gartz, Tim White, Joseph Smidt, David Parkinson, Brad Skidmore, Greg Skidmore, Les Namingha, Joseph Namingha, Joshua Namingha, Esther Brunette, Kent Budge, Brooke Smidt, Caleb Smidt, Ethan Smidt, Adam Smidt, Jared Smidt, Steve Dawald, James Thwaits, Michael Cayton, Ben Stone, Zach Shriver, Becca Betts, Sarah Beckstead and Caemlyn Beckstead. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Department riders Division Chief James Thwaits, left, and Deputy Chief Steve Dawald lead the pack Wednesday morning.past Pojoaque Valley High School. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Department Capt. Michael Cayton and EMS Division Chief Ben Stone ride early Wednesday morning past Pojoaque High School. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Runners from left, Tim White, David Parkinson and David Gartz joined the flag carry in Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Stephen Betts, front left, carries the backpack containing the U.S. flag accompanied by, from left, Joshua Namingha, Joseph Namingha and Les Namingha as the group leaves Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
A group of participants run along Rover Boulevard in White Rock during the last stretch of the flag carry. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Marine Corps veteran Randy Cardon, right, who served seven years in Vietnam, Guantanamo. Okanowa and Thailand, and Chris Campbell, left, a 12-year member of the U.S. Air Force receive the flags from Stephen Betts at 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Rover Boulevard and Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
A group of veterans accompanies the flags down Grand Canyon Drive to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
A group of Boy Scouts raises the flag outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in White Rock after its 33-mile journey from the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Guest speaker Wednesday for the Independence Day Celebration at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ben Bateman prior to his speech. A West Point graduate, Bateman is a U.S. Army veteran who received the Army’s Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor device and the Army’ Achievement Medal for his service as well as the Special Forces tab, Ranger tab and Combat Infantryman Badge. He was deployed in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Runners Miguel Perez and Esther Brunette listen to the guest speaker at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Community members welcome the flag to White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
