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In Iris Park, roses honor Afghanistan veterans

Memorial Day celebrations recall lives lost in armed conflicts

After roses were laid below the Vietnam Memorial in Iris Park in honor of service members lost, some of those who gathered for the Memorial Day ceremony called out the names of the veterans on their minds.

“The rose tradition we have really gives the audience time to reflect,” said Larry Zauberis, a Vietnam veteran.

This year, a rose was placed for all Coloradans who have died fighting in Afghanistan as about 100 people gathered.

“It’s a symbolic representation of all lives lost,” said Christopher Meyer with the Durango Vietnam Veterans’ Association.

Donald Anderson, who served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam, was pleased to see the Afghanistan veterans honored.

“I hope they do not get forgotten like the Korean and Vietnam veterans,” he said.

The ceremony at Iris Park was followed by memorials at Greenmount Cemetery and the Ninth Street bridge. From the bridge, a wreath was released into the Animas River in honor of those who died fighting at sea.

“We seldom appreciate those vigilant defenders of our shorelines,” said Susan Mann, commander of American Legion Post No. 28.

Michaylla Zelhart drove from Pagosa Springs to attend all three ceremonies in honor of her family members who served.

“It just was a family tradition; we’ve never missed it,” she said.

Zelhart’s grandfather, William Binger, gave her his jacket commemorating his infantry service in Korea shortly before he died last year. She wore it to the services in honor of Binger, a longtime Durangoan.

In red lettering, it declared: “I’m sure to go to heaven because I spent my time in hell.”

While many thought of past conflicts, Mann also had her nephew Christopher Hedges in mind. The recent Durango High School graduate enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he left for boot camp at Fort Jackson in South Carolina on Monday.

A Navy veteran, Mann is from a military family, and she was proud of Hedges’ choice to join the military.

“As part of the younger generation, he did not take the stance: It’s not my job,” she said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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