Kids write letters to troops from 1990 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Hundreds of children sent messages to Middle East troops from Albuquerque during the 1990 balloon event. The effort allowed young visitors across New Mexico to airmail handwritten notes aboard flying hot air balloons. Reporter Lisa Cruz visited the field to interview participants about their personal written notes.
One young writer named Nathan sent a note from Las Vegas, New Mexico. “My name is Nathan, and I live in Las Vegas, New Mexico. What do you do,” one of the kids wrote in his letter to the troops. Event workers helped children prepare mail.
“And it’s really amazing, some of the letters you get, how intelligent and how informed these young people are at this at their ages, you know, about what’s going on,” the vendor said. Joseph Lovato of Ponderosa wrote about his cousin Clyde serving in the military forces. Lovato asked for a reply.
“I hope you guys win,” one of the kids said in his letter. “My cousin Clyde is in the service, if you guys have it, or I will be grateful. My name is Joseph Lovato, I live in Ponderosa. Please write to me.” Thousands of spectators gathered daily in Albuquerque to watch the mass balloon ascensions.
The festival offered a unique mail delivery feature carried directly by hot air balloon pilots. “The pilot signs the letter when he brings it down to us, and then it is postmarked with the official cancellation stamp, which is destroyed at the end of the Fiesta so it becomes a collector’s item,” the vendor explains. Each special balloon letter cost customers one dollar and fifty cents to mail.
Hot air balloon festivals routinely host aviation displays and public activities for regional visitors. Mail flown aboard aircraft often receives distinctive postmarks to verify the flight route. These commemorative markings create unique historical records of regional civic gatherings.
More than 2,000 letters were mailed every day from Balloon Fiesta Park. The commemorative program took place during the annual gathering in New Mexico.
