They are commonly known as roadside crosses. But for many families in New Mexico,the descanso is a small shrine erected to remember a loved one in the place where their soul left this world. They can be found alongside roadways all over the
southwest.
On October 24, 2006, Antonia Miera, a 16 year old Taos High School student, died in the parking lot of the Hacienda Inn, along busy Paseo del Pueblo Sur. Her boyfriend, 23 year old Arturo Mondragon Jr. has been accused of vehicular homicide and is awaiting trial.
In February 2007, Tammy Roybal-Gonzales, Antonia’s mother arranged to have a permanent metal descanso placed on a site in front of the Hacienda Inn. She had contacted and obtained permission from the state department of transportation to place the descanso on what she believed was a public right of way.
Then, on March 10, a manager at the Hacienda Inn unceremoniously removed the
descanso, saying it was bad for business. Shocked by the discovery, Roybal’s family went back to state officials to find out if the Hacienda’s action was legal. It was finally determined that the descanso’s original site was on the public right of way.On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, Tammy Roybal-Gonzales was joined again by family and friends for the re-installation of Antonia’s descanso.
