Coast Guard Veteran and Burrell College of
Osteopathic Medicine are Co-Grand Marshals for Electric Light Parade

Las Cruces residents R. Jay Lloyd, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran (in the top photo below); Dr. Michael Woods, associate professor of Pathology at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (in the lower left photo); and student doctor Brad Poindexter, a third-year medical student (in the lower right photo below), will be the co-grand marshals of the City of Las Cruces 2021 Electric Light Parade.

The parade will be at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 3. The parade will begin at Apodaca Park and travel south on Solano Avenue to Hadley Avenue, where it will end at Maag Softball Complex.

“Stars & Stripes Forever!” is the theme for the City’s 2021 Fourth of July Electric Light Parade.

This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic, forced Las Cruces and many other communities to face obstacles that no one imagined. But as always, heroes in our community stepped up to keep Las Cruces moving forward.

As the past year has been very different, the City of Las Cruces honors our distinguished veterans and those in our community who have kept us safe and helped get Las Cruces open again.

Lloyd was the sixth Master Chief Petty Officer for the Coast Guard and served as the enlisted advisor to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1990 to 1994. Prior to his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer, Lloyd served as Command Enlisted Advisor of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska.

Lloyd also previously served as Command Enlisted Advisor for the Eighth Coast Guard District, New Orleans, Louisiana. Lloyd is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy; U.S. Coast Guard Senior Petty Officer Leadership and Management School, and Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

Lloyd’s extensive military awards include two Legion of Merit Medals; Meritorious Service Medal; three Coast Guard Commendation Medals; Coast Guard Achievement Medal; Commandant's Letter of Commendation with "O" device; two Coast Guard Unit Commendation's with "O" device; Bicentennial Unit Commendation; eight Coast Guard Good Conduct Awards; National Defense Service Medal, with Bronze Star; Humanitarian Service Medal; Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon; Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon; Coast Guard Expert Rifleman Medal; and Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Medal. He is a member of the advisory board of VetJobs.

Lloyd also earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in History from New Mexico State University.

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is being honored for aiding community efforts to combat COVID-19. The college’s faculty, staff and students have contributed in many ways, including support of drive-through testing and vaccination clinics with the New Mexico Department of Health.

The Burrell College has provided expert medical and scientific advice to Las Cruces and surrounding communities. The college looks forward to improving health in the southwestern U.S. through culturally respectful undergraduate, graduate and continuing osteopathic medical education, research and support of clinical service to the community.

During the past year, third- and fourth-year Burrell students assisted with patient care in Las Cruces clinics and hospitals and across the U.S. In addition to continuing studies online, first- and second-year students participated in local COVID-19 testing sites and vaccine clinics.

The students were also able to continue standardized patient encounters virtually, thanks to wonderful and flexible community members who served as practice patients. Student-led organizations also contributed by donating items, such as face masks and hand sanitizer, to the local community.