EYE ON COLUMBUS
by BigAddison - Resident reporter
Hidden in plain sight at the prophetic intersection of Interstates 9/11, lies the Historic Village of Columbus, New Mexico. Hidden in plain sight at the seemingly prophetic intersection of Interstates 9/11, lies a historical little town nestled firmly in the footprints left by the dramatic events that transformed the United States at the Turn Of The 19th Century. Nine out of ten people will recognize the name of our most famed figure, Pancho Villa, but few will know who he is, or how his name made history. In short, the last time the Continental U.S. was invaded by a foreign army prior to the Sept 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, was the March 10th, 1916 raid on Columbus by Pancho Villa. (Columbus was the largest city in New Mexico at the time.) The official military response by the United States Army further marked Columbus a place of transition. It's where the soldiers in what's recognized as "The Last Ride Of The United States Calvary" witnessed the first military use of mechanized transportation, and tank divisions. (Led by a young George Patton) Those Calvary men also saw the maiden flight of the newly formed 1st Aero Squadron, (To become the U.S. Air Force) featuring the "Jenny" airplane made infamous by its upside-down image misprinted on what is now the world most prized and valuable postage stamp. C'mon America, join us in rediscovering Columbus, we're anxious to meet you and share our Southwestern hospitality, fresh air, clean water, healing weather, and our inspiring desert twilight hour. Come visit our lazy little village, where many of the citizens might tell you is the "Center of the Universe", a vortex of a sort, a place in the wilderness where the past and the future mix to bring alive each new day on the border of the Land of Enchantment.
