Tim Gianulis and Phil Cavos with the memorial plaque they created honoring the Greek immigrants who died in the 1913 and 1923 mine explosions. (Photo courtesy of John Denne)

Where to begin?

That’s the challenge in trying to describe what it was like to attend this year’s biennial Dawson reunion over Labor Day weekend on the old townsite.

Two years ago, when I came to my first reunion, I was about a month away from submitting the final version of my manuscript to the publisher. This time, my visit with my wife, Susan, came 11 months after my history of the old coal town, Crosses of Iron: The Tragic Story of Dawson, New Mexico, and Its Twin Mining Disasters, was released by the University of New Mexico Press.

Quite a bit has happened since that time. I’ve now presented and/or signed books nearly a dozen times — in three states, no less – and been recognized with a book award by the Historical Society of New Mexico and as a finalist for a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award.

That’s what happens when you are blessed with a fascinating story and a loving community so willing to share it.

Earlier this year, I had planned to reach out to Bobbie Jo Bacca, chairwoman of the Dawson New Mexico Association, to ask if I could attend. But she beat me to the punch by not only inviting me, but asking me to bring books to sell/sign and to speak to the gathering.

Fortunately, Bobbie Jo granted my request to speak before this year’s main speaker, American labor icon Dolores Huerta, who was born in Dawson 94 years ago and was attending her fourth reunion with members of her family. I remembered the Presidential Medal of Freedom winner’s speech at the previous reunion and wanted nothing to do with following her to the microphone.

Later that afternoon, a ceremony took place at historic Dawson Cemetery, where a sea of white iron crosses memorializes the nearly 400 men killed in the 1913 and 1923 mine disasters.

Here, the New Mexico chapter of the American Hellenic Progressive Educational Association (AHEPA) dedicated a “Day of Remembrance” plaque commemorating the dozens of Greek miners killed in the two explosions.

The blue-and-white plaque stand, reflecting the colors of the Greek flag, is the handiwork of Denver natives Phil Cavos and Tim Gianulis. The plaque recognizes AHEPA’s ceremony last year marking the 100-year anniversary of the 1923 disaster. It reads: “Remembering and honoring the Greeks of Dawson, who gave their lives while securing better lives for future generations.”

The new plaque is not the first to recognize a specific immigrant group outside the cemetery. Eighteen years earlier, the National Italian American Foundation dedicated a plaque honoring the Italian immigrants who settled in Dawson and the many who lost their lives there. Together, Italians (150) and Greeks (51) comprise more than half of the 383 victims of the twin disasters.

I want to express my sincere thanks to the Bacca family and to all who attended for the warm reception extended to Susan and I at this year’s reunion. I will be forever grateful for the outpouring of appreciation for undertaking Crosses of Iron and preserving the memories of their beloved old coal town.