American flags at Greenmount Cemetery before Memorial Day services. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file)
Durango is ready to again honor the men and women who died while serving in the United States military with a number of Memorial Day weekend events.
VFW Post 4031 Cmdr. David Latham said it means a great deal to be able to recognize those who served.
“It’s a huge honor for us to be able to do that,” he said. “We have various ceremonies going on throughout the weekend.”
Here are events planned for the weekend in Durango, each of which Latham said has their own unique way of honoring the fallen:
- Until 4 p.m. Monday: The Blue Star Mothers put up hundreds of U.S. flags and dog tags in the “healing field” at Santa Rita Park. The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a lighting ceremony at 9 p.m. that same day.
- Saturday and Sunday: The VFW’s annual Buddy Poppy Drive will be held at various locations across La Plata County. Guests can pick up their own poppy and wear it all day on Memorial Day.
- Saturday: VFW and other service organizations will place flags on veterans’ graves at Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road. Volunteers who want to help are asked to arrive at the cemetery’s Legion Memorial at 10 a.m.
- 8 a.m. Saturday: The Iron Horse Classic Veterans Train Ride will make its way up to Silverton.
- 6 a.m. Monday: The VFW will place U.S. flags along Main Avenue at 6 a.m., then set the VFW flag at half-staff at 8 a.m. (before raising it back up to full staff at noon).
- 10 a.m. Monday: The Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Ceremony will be held at Iris Park, 1235 Camino del Rio.
- 11 a.m. Monday: Greenmount Cemetery’s remembrance ceremony will be held; that will be followed with a Lost At Sea Remembrance Ceremony and wreath throwing on the bridge behind Rotary Park.
- Noon Monday: The VFW will hold an open house at Post 4031 until 3 p.m. A traditional Memorial Day cookout will also be held.
For more information, contact VFW Post 4031 Webmaster and Public Relations Committee Chairman Jeff Punches at webmaster@vfw4031.org or call VFW Post 4031 at 247-0384.
