Luna Hall Luna Hall was originally built in the time of 1918 and named Luna Natatorium in honor of Lieutenant Antonio J. Luna. The class of 1914 building housed the first indoor swimming pool of West Mississippi River in 1918. The transition from a natatorium to a museum began in 1980. The big building became the McBride Museum in the era and building was again renovated to house Admissions and Financial Aid, the NMMI Alumni Association and the NMMI Foundation. I like Luna Hall it made me a better person. The McBride Museum is now housed on the second story.
The Luna Hall building was known as the Enrollment and Development Center from 2006 the Fall of 2009. Also visitors of The Luna Hall may not know and realize they are sitting directly over the old swimming pool. The offices Admissions, Financial Aid are located in the lobby area. Visitors can go up the stairs to visit the McBride museum and the numerous displays of NMMI history and NMMI cadet life. The visitor can take the southeast staircase to the McBride museum and greeted by a painting of General McBride, a display of the original campus bricks and numerous photos of cadet life.
There is a leadership exhibit containing various uniform insignia pins and cords items of the cadet life they can lead. There are Athletics displays which items such as a letterman jacket of Reggie Franklins which was a Harlem Globetrotter and his jersey items. There is a tribute to Roger Staubuch ,a quarterback Dallas Cowboy NFL and his football career. Luna Hall has all historical athletic equipment and items as well as photos of NMMI Athletics. There is an academics exhibit which displays historic guides and visual equipment an antiques original academies books also a Paul Hogan’s typewriter which is a famous NMMI alumni Luna Hall has NMMI cadet desk and displays the old cadet life.
You can find displays of the historic books teaching with tools and academic goals and instruments well as photos of academic life at NMMI. There is the East wing Hall of Fame. In Luna Hall, there is a plaque featuring all NMMI flag officers, military branch flags, and a plaque honoring NMMI alumni that died in battle from World War 11 to the current Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. One of the two Virtual Hall Fame kiosks is also located in the east wing of the hall of hall of fame.
There is a west wing of Luna Hall which contains the photos and biographies of current hall of fame inductees and the Hall of Induction ceremony take place each October during homecoming. There is a Bataan Death March exhibit in Luna Hall. The Death Bataan March and the yearly reenacted in yearly and most cadets participate. The March in the Philippines in 1942 is 60 mile forced march involved 75,000 American also Filipino prisoner of war. Each year cadets participate in a 26. 2 mile march at White Sands Missile Range to memorize the heroic service members involved in the Bataan Death March.
There is a displays chronicles the role of NMMI women for the years of school. The state of New Mexico Attorney General has that the New Mexico constitution prohibits New Mexico Institute’s policy of excluding women students. When the were able to attended as day students to the matriculation of women into the Corps of Cadets in 1977 as well as honoring the women served at NMMI for a number of years. The display contains historical photos with a woman’s uniform and articles. Luna hall displays the history of New Mexico Military Institute. The Alumni Hall of Fame is ever growing with collections of outstanding alumni graduates.
The McBride Museum is open to the public free of charge. Monday through Friday from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. during regular work days. The McBride Museum may be closed on holidays. The NMMI motto is Duty, Honor, and Achievement. There is a display of trophies from NMMI’s successful polo team in 1950. You can see equipment for the horses and the polo things as well as articles and photos from NMMI powerful history. NMMI began a formal polo in 1922 that quickly became a tradition and attraction for the cadets. In the year of 1952 and month of March, the Broncos won the National Polo Championship against Yale University with score of 10 to 8.
Displays features a recreation of a barracks room where cadets would sleeping along with uniform. The barracks in 1901 are different there are uniform items such as cadets grooming items NMMI China and historical commandments and announcements. The Funk Conference Room was named John K Funk and entered the field of aerospace in 1933 working close with famous guys like Claude Ryan and Douglas T. Kelley founder of a PSA Mr. Funk became a good barnstorming pilot of his time. He also served with World War 11 as a flight commander instructor and finally as a flight officer on numerous aircraft.
He followed the family legacy stated by his grandfather Captain A. B Funk in Titusville, and Pennsylvania. His father Wilbur Funk, entered the oil business in association with his father established and operated a vast oil leasing and royalty business among other things and ventures. Primarily used for meeting with the Alumni board also the foundation board is used for honor board meetings. Luna Hall has The Alumni Plaza located in front of the building Alumni Plaza does contain monuments and markers that honor NMMI and, as distinguished alumni plaza is platform and statue of Major W. D Bill DeSanders, who was a member of class of 1940 and distraction as a World War 11 bomber pilot extending from the bricks.
Alumni who through their dedicated and outstanding service and devotion to NMMI in positions of high responds and positive influences NMMI over a number of years. He or she must have adhered close to the official recognized customs and traditions of NMMI and have shown a willingness to devote them selfs to goals and honor. “New Mexico Military Institute. “
