USS Santa Fe Commander Timothy Poe, center, speaks with Executive Director Kurt Steinhaus of the Community Programs Office at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Michael Lucero of the Ysleta Pueblo Saturday at the San Ildefonso Pueblo home of Elmer and Deborah Torres. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Commander Timothy Poe shares a medal in the shape of New Mexico now ingraved with the USS Santa Fe submarine. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

The USS Santa Fe’s commanding officer Timothy Poe watches as Jerome Trujillo, 5, performs with fellow Red Turtle Dancers from the Pojoaque Pueblo in the living room of Elmer and Deborah Torres at San Ildefonso Pueblo Saturday. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com 

SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO — A special event was held Saturday in the San Ildefonso Pueblo home of Elmer and Deborah Torres.

The couple honored USS Santa Fe Commander Timothy Poe and Chief of the Boat Juan Gonzalez with Native American dancers and traditional feast day style food. 

Poe and Gonzalez were visiting northern New Mexico from Hawaii where their ship is docked at Pearl Harbor.

“This is my first visit to New Mexico and it is absolutely beautiful,” Gonzalez said. “I especially love the architecture.”

Having been born a Navy brat and traveled all over the world, Poe said he is looking for just the right place to retire with his wife when the time comes and “Santa Fe is a definite possibility.”

Read the full story and see more photos from Saturday’s event in Monday’s edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.

San Ildefonso Pueblo Tribal Leader Elmer Torres speaks with guests gathered at his home Saturday to meet USS Santa Fe Commander Timothy Poe and Chief of the Boat Juan Gonzalez. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Chief of the Boat Juan Gonzalez. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss, center, attended Saturday’s event, which included a feast day style meal for the nearly 50 guests. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com