On July 23, a memorial service and military ceremony will be held to honor Gallup’s oldest veteran, who is interred at Hill Crest Cemetery. Jose Del los Reyes Bustamante was a veteran of the Civil War who fought in the battle at Valverde.

The ceremony will be held at 10:30 am at Hill Crest Cemetery, located on Aztec Avenue in Gallup. Civil War Historian Jerry Thompson will also be in attendance to help honor this soldier, as well as reenactors and other community volunteers.

The service is open to the public.  There will be a special program/reception following the ceremony at a location to be announced.

Born in 1844, Jose Del los Reyes Bustamante was a private under the command of Captain James “Paddy” Graydon during the American Civil War. Their job was to keep surveillance on the Confederate invasion force coming up from the Texas border. Bustamante fought in the battle of Valverde and was one of 15 soldiers who had their horses shot out from under them.

Given an honorable discharge on April 15, 1863, Bustamante eventually settled in Gallup. He died in Gallup on May 29, 1930 at the age of 87.

Organizers of the event are looking for descendants of Jose Del los Reyes Bustamante to be part of the ceremony. Please contact Phil Marquez at (505) 870-7707 or Martin Link at (505) 863-6459 for more information. Special thanks to the Gallup Lion’s Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and City of Gallup for their help and support.