NM Gov. Martinez Gives Keynote Speech to Awards Banquet at Fort Bliss
Read the complete article here.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez thanked soldiers for their service to the country during an awards banquet Thursday night at the Centennial Club at Fort Bliss.
Martinez, a native of El Paso, also recognized the sacrifices made by families of service members who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
She was the keynote speaker for the Association of the United States Army-Gen. Omar N. Bradley Chapter Awards Banquet.
“To the unsung heroes, I thank you who work to make sure to help keep the families together,” Martinez said.
Before Martinez spoke, ROTC students from Riverside High School, her alma mater, conducted a posting of the colors ceremony. Most of the soldiers who attended the event wore Army dress blue uniforms.
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At the end of her talk, the audience gave her a standing ovation. After that, she helped hand out the awards to soldiers, civilian employees and families.
Recently, Martinez was mentioned as a potential vice-presidential candidate for the Republican Party, but she has said in several media reports that she is not interested in the position at this time.
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Up to this point, I took Martinez at her word that she was not interested in the VP nominee spot, although one always says one is not interested, because to show interest and then not get it is embarrassing. However, when I read that she participated in this event in Texas, I thought ‘she has interests beyond New Mexico.’ I know she’s from El Paso so it’s natural for her to go there, but she’s been criticized for being a Texan rather than a New Mexican, so there’s an element of political risk there also.
Then I saw the photo.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, Commander of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss applaud the singing of the National Anthem during the 33rd Annual General of the Army Omar N. Bradly Awards Banquet sponsored by the Association of the United States Army Thursday at Fort Bliss. Martinez, an El Paso native, was guest speaker at the event. (Rudy Gutierrez/El Paso Times)
She was not so formally attired for her own inauguration. She looks ready to run. Personally, I would have gone just to be able to stand next to Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, who must be the handsomest man in Texas, but I’m starting to think that Martinez has a touch of vice presidential ambition.
There’s a link to more photos at the link above.