LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — Hundreds of Las Crucens attended services for Abe Romero, the Organ Mountain football player who died last week.
Romero was the team’s captain and had been placed in a medically induced coma for three weeks after collapsing on the pitch during a game against Deming in late August.
The community gathered to say their final goodbyes to Romero, who was described as the “heart of the team”. His teammates carried his casket today with heavy hearts. Crowds of mourners watched as Romero was moved to his final resting place. His teammates were the pallbearers lifting his coffin into the hearse. Her grandfather delivered the eulogy.
“Because of my grandson, Abraham Romero. A young man who gave his all, a young man who demonstrated his love to all of humanity, which is why right now we are seeing the fruit of his love that crippled all of Las Cruces,” Jesus’ grandfather Alonzo Romero said.
“He always wrote me letters, notes. He was just always loving,’ Cicilia’s girlfriend Salinas Romero said. “I had no words but throughout it all I had a lot of faith in him. He was going to get better and we are there, but I know he is watching over us.”
“We only have one life here and we’re not forever. We don’t know when we’re going to die,” Alonzo said.
His relatives have promised to keep his memory alive.
“Just be strong and keep moving forward. To do good for school. He always told me every morning that he was proud of me and that I just had to stay on track, keep my grades high, so I’m going to do this for him,” Salinas said. “You are forever in our hearts and I love you.”
The community held a flag in service to Romero. It was teal and black. on one side, Abe’s name. The other, number 22. His loved ones honored his life and his love for the game.
