Why we celebrate Memorial Day and where you can do so in Pueblo
Pueblo, dubbed the "Home of Heroes," will host several events this year to celebrate Memorial Day, the annual holiday that honors fallen service members who have died serving the U.S. military.
Here's why we celebrate Memorial Day and how you can get involved in some of Pueblo's celebrations.
Why we celebrate Memorial Day
The federal holiday originally known as Decoration Day originated in the years following the Civil War. It's a nationwide day of remembrance that's often observed by Americans by visiting cemeteries or memorials, participating in parades and hosting family gatherings.
Pueblo has long celebrated its military ties, with many people coming out each year to honor and celebrate the more than 1 million men and women who’ve died in military service since the beginning of the U.S. Civil War.
This Memorial Day in Pueblo, there are several opportunities to honor fallen veterans who died in the line of duty.
A day to remember our servicemen and women who died on the battlefield, Center for American Values
The Center for American Values, 101 South Main St., will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, according to CAV Executive Director Karren “Sparky” Turner. The event will specifically honor the four Medal of Honor recipients who passed away nationwide this year, and less specifically, all veterans who have fallen in the line of duty.
The four recipients being honored at this year's event are:
The event will also feature a speech by Maj. Drew Dix, Pueblo's last surviving Medal of Honor recipient, at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will also be provided.
Pioneer Cemetery Memorial Day Service
Starting at 8:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, the Pueblo Pioneer Cemetery, 901-1099 Masonic Cemetery Road, will host an event honoring the fallen veterans resting at Pioneer Cemetery. Joe Talbott, president of the Pioneer Cemetery Association, estimates there are at least 100 veterans buried in the cemetery.
"We have veterans we don't even know about," he said.
The ceremony will include a lowering of the U.S. flag to half-mast, a 21-gun salute, bagpipes, a minister to pray over the graves, and coffee and donuts for those in attendance. No speakers are featured, Talbott said, because the cemetery has received requests in past years not to feature speakers.
The ceremony averages between 15 and 35 people in attendance every year, Talbott said. He encourages people to attend, but said "We'll talk to the graves if we have to."
Butch Chavez Memorial Day Run/Walk at Roselawn Cemetery
The Butch Chavez Memorial Day Run/Walk at Roselawn Cemetery, 1706 Roselawn Road, will begin at 7 a.m. with registration. Participating in the run will cost $22 per participant. At 8 a.m., the walk, run, and ruck will begin. A "ruck" is a march with a loaded rucksack, similar to the weight carried by an active-duty soldier.
This year's run is dedicated to Bill Barrett, a WWII veteran of the South Pacific Theater who passed away last year, said Rudy Krasovec, executive director for Roselawn Cemetery.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Barrett spent a lot of time volunteering at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum and spent a lot of time getting to know other veterans there.
At 10 a.m., a Memorial Day mass will be held in front of Roselawn's "Bishop's Mausoleum," where three bishops from the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo are buried, Krasovec said.
After the mass, members of Pueblo's religious communities will go out into the cemeteries and bless the graves, including sisters of the Benedictine and Dominican orders, as well as the Sisters of Charity.
Roselawn has many veterans buried at the cemetery, Krasovec said. Among the notable graves are Warren C. Dockum, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Civil War, and James O'Neal, who in WWII served as chief chaplain of the U.S. Third Army, and authored the famous "Patton Prayer" for fair weather and victory in the war.
"We have about 66,000 graves here at Roselawn Cemetery, and over 100 acres where people are buried," Krasovec said. "Normally, we get anywhere between 1,000 and 5,000 people here on Memorial Day weekend, from all around the country. We're looking to try to be as respectful as we can to the people that are here, and really honor the veterans because that's a special day to them."
Memorial Day 5k Fun Run & Walk, Imperial Memorial Guardians Cemetery
Imperial Memorial Guardians Cemetery and Funeral Homes, 5450 Colorado Highway 78 West, will host a free 5k walk and run starting at 8 a.m. on Memorial Day. The event is scheduled to last one hour and will honor fallen veterans while also supporting victims of domestic violence.
The event is sponsored by Dignity Memorial and Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships (SOAR).
"Registration is absolutely free, and all we ask is that you bring a donation of clothing or other items to support victims of domestic violence," event organizers wrote in an online description of the fun run and walk. "If you choose not to bring an item, you can also go to their website and make a donation."
"The event promises to be a memorable experience for all participants. Each participant will receive a finisher medal, families with children will find plenty of entertainment options including a bouncy house and various food trucks offering delicious treats for everyone to enjoy."
Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Here's where you can honor veterans and celebrate Memorial Day in Pueblo
