San Antonio, New Mexico is a place on the map noted most for being the off-ramp from Interstate 24 one takes to get to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Sanctuary.  I've been driving through it for the better part of 12 years on my visits to Bosque.  The only stops I've ever made there have been to have lunch at the Buckhorn Tavern which serves one of the best Green Chile Cheeseburgers in maybe the whole World ... note, too, that the layered enchiladas are excellent!  

On my visit last month I finally decided to take some pictures of this tiny, old (by American standards) place situated near the Rio Grande!  At one time, it must have been a stop on the Santa Fe railroad (which still runs through it).  This old building, sitting on blocks, looks like it has been moved to its current location from somewhere near the tracks.  It has plenty of character:

But, what had attracted my attention was the the local graveyard:

It was surrounded by a old chain link fence, and at the entrance, a number of small U.S.A. flags had been stuck in the links:

And, many of the grave sites had U.S.A. Flags "planted".  It was obvious from the names on the headstones that most of the deceased were of Mexican descent.  I was struck and moved that this exhibition of patriotism to the U.S. was made by descendants from the nearby country of Mexico!

Had they all been veterans? Or, was this just acknowledgement of their fealty to the U.S.A.?

Clearly this is not a wealthy community!  Obviously many could not afford the kind of grave markers found in my community. Yet, respect was still exhibited but in a different manner:

If there was a Catholic cemetery, there had to be a church:

It looks like it was made of adobe, and a sign indicated it was commemorated in 1930.  It is shuttered now.  The window over the door and the windows in the bell tower are covered with plywood.  Here's the main entrance:

About 100 yards away was what once must have been a "local watering hole".  I think it is now being used as someone's home:

And across the street is the Volunteer Fire department.  Attached to the fire house was an "add-on" structure with this door. I couldn't resist its character:

A little later, a train passed the spot where I was photographing birds.  I took a slow-shutter speed shot, intentionally blurring the image.  It seems a fitting end to this post ... the railroad is still there but undoubtably is less important to San Antonio than it once had been:

Best wishes and continued health for 2015,

Adam