Roman Speegle plants a flag into the ground at a veteran’s grave on Saturday at Greenmount Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day. The flags are placed near the buried soldiers’ left shoulders, so it is close to their hearts.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald
Terry Saxson, a Vietnam War veteran, organized the flag-placing event at the Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday morning. He has been coming to plant flags for 22 years. He also serves as the chaplain of Durango’s American Legion Post 28. He says he continues to plant flags every Memorial Day weekend to honor those who fought for America’s freedoms. He places a flag at the grave of Capt. Jeff Kuss, a Durango native and Marine who died June 2, 2016, in a plane crash while he was training with his unit, the elite Blue Angels.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
Volunteers placed flags on every veteran’s grave at the Greenmount Cemetery in Durango on Saturday morning. Veterans from all wars except for the Revolutionary War are buried at the cemetery.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
Roman Speegle and Ian McCarthy, members of Boy Scouts of America Troup 538, search for veterans’ graves to place flags in honor of Memorial Day at Greenmount Cemetery.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
Roman Speegle plants a flag into the ground at a veteran’s grave on Saturday morning at Greenmount Cemetery. The flags are placed near the buried soldiers’ left shoulders, so it is close to their hearts.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
Bre Leffard, a volunteer with Volunteers of America, plants a flag at a veteran’s grave on Saturday morning at Greenmount Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
Veterans’ graves were decorated with flags in Greenmount Cemetery on Saturday. There are <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/225445-memorial-day-to-honor-veterans-with-events">multiple other events</a> honoring the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.
Ryan Simonovich/Durango Herald <br>
The Durango Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans Association will hold Memorial Day events Monday in Durango.
Monday
6 a.m.: VFW flag placement on Main Avenue.
10 a.m.: Vietnam veterans memorial ceremony in Iris Park, 1235 Camino del Rio. The ceremony is organized by the Vietnam Veterans Association, with participation by the American Legion and VFW, to honor the Americans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
11 a.m.: Veterans memorial ceremony in Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road. The ceremony is organized by the VFW, with participation by the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Association, to honor the Americans who lost their lives fighting for freedom.
11:45 a.m.: Wreath ceremony at the Ninth Street Bridge. The ceremony is organized by the American Legion, with participation by the VFW, to honor the Americans who died at sea.
Noon: Open house at the American Legion, 878 East Second Ave.
12:30 p.m.: Open house at the VFW, 1550 Main Ave.
Tuesday
10 a.m.: Flag pickup at Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road. Volunteers will meet at the American Legion Memorial at the cemetery.
