Memorial Day celebrations recall lives lost in armed conflicts
The reflection of John Jarrett, chaplain at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031, is captured by the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday during a Memorial Day service.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Michaylla Zelhart wore her grandfather’s jacket at all of Durango’s Memorial Day ceremonies Monday. Her grandfather, William Binger, served in Korea and Vietnam.
Mary Shinn/Durango Herald
Terry Saxon, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031, plays “Taps” at the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday during a Memorial Day service.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Veterans salute as “Taps” is played at the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery during a Memorial Day service.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Veterans’ reflections are caught by the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery during the Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Members of the American Legion Post No. 28 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031 drop a wreath from the Ninth Street bridge in honor of sailors lost at sea during Memorial Day Services in Durango. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
The reflection of John Jarrett, chaplain at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031, is caught by the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday during a Memorial Day service. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Terry Saxon, with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031, plays “Taps” at the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday during a Memorial Day service. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
A Vietnam War veteran is framed by the American flag at Iris Park Monday during a Memorial Day Service at the Vietnam Veterans Monument. The veteran said he was part of the “No Names” contingent of the Durango Vietnam Veterans Association who choose not to use their own names on Memorial Day in honor of those who were killed in the war. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Vietnam War veteran Lt. Col. Donald Anderson (Air Force retired) salutes as “Taps” is played Monday during a Memorial Day service at the Vietnam Memorial in Iris Park. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
A Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald.
Susan Mann of American Legion Post No. 28 and Steve White of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4031 hold a wreath that will be dropped from the Ninth Street bridge in honor of sailors lost at sea during a Memorial Day service. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Veterans salute as “Taps” is played at the Veterans Memorial at Greenmount Cemetery on Monday during a Memorial Day service. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
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.
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