Fallen honored in Memorial Day ceremonies

  • Published
  • By Cindy Dewey
  • ARPC Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  May was a busy month for members of the Air Reserve Personnel Center. Demonstrating an Air Force core value "Service Before Self," military personnel devoted time from their holiday weekend to volunteer for various tributes in the Denver metropolitan area.

In recognition of Memorial Day, six Airmen including Brig. Gen. Jay Flournoy, ARPC commander, participated in the 14th Annual Veterans Memorial Day Tribute in Denver, Saturday, to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our nation.

Family and friends of Colorado's fallen, hundreds of military and civilian volunteers, Colorado senators, representatives and Gov. John Hickenlooper gathered in Lincoln Park, across from the state Capitol, to pay tribute.

The first year a family attends, they are presented with a banner embroidered with their hero's name. Each consecutive year, the family receives a commemorative pin that attaches to the banner. Each gift serves as a remembrance of their hero's bravery. A total of 50 families were honored this year.

Then Sunday, 11 volunteers from the center participated in the dedication of the Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora, Colo., near Buckley AFB. 

The monument stands 12-feet tall, 95-feet wide and consists of 21 glass panels positioned at varying angles to signify the fallen. The names of more than 6,000 Coloradans are etched in the glass panels dedicated to the specific war in which they fought. The jagged glass pieces are reminiscent of Colorado's mountains and the water surrounding it represents a war fought overseas.

To round off the weekend remembrances, the ARPC Honor Guard led the way as hundreds lined the streets of Commerce City for the 49th Memorial Day parade Monday, the largest Memorial Day parade in the country. The group consisting of Staff Sgt. Cindy Rodriguez, Senior Airman Sean Cooper, Senior Airman Iris Morales and Staff Sgt. Ashley Kidder represented the Air Force and ARPC well as they led 92 parade entries for more than three miles.

"Events like these give us all pause to contemplate the great sacrifice our men and women in uniform make each and every day," Flournoy said. "To reflect on them with our Buckley community neighbors is an honor and privilege. I couldn't be more humbled by their support or more proud of our partnerships."