Memorial Day in Denver – Honoring Those Who Served
In case you’re visiting the Denver Traveler from another country (hello!) and were not aware, this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend here in the United States. The holiday was created in 1868, and is celebrated to honor those who perished in the service of our country.
For most Americans, it is the first holiday in Spring and you’ll find most of us at our grills, spending time with our families, and getting some yard work done. Many of us have friends and family who have served in the Armed Forces and unfortunately, many of us know a service person who gave their life in the line of duty.
The Mile High City will hold its 82nd Annual Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 24th. The Parade will start at 10 AM, beginning at Civic Center Park and will travel down 14th Street to Court Place, then cross to 15th St. and Welton Street before going east to 17th Street and then traveling south on Broadway to 14th Ave. Come out and see marching bands complete with color guards (and some guards without bands!), drill teams, military vehicles (vintage and modern), floats of all kinds and of course, service people from the various branches of the Armed Forces!
Just a reminder to those mass transit riders: the following RTD bus routes will be detoured during the parade: 0, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 15-LTD, 16, 16L, 20, 28, 32, 48, and 52. Riders should add extra time for their trip. Call 303-299-6000 or RTD-Denver.com for more information.
Immediately following the parade will be the 9th Annual Memorial Day Tribute Ceremony at the State Capitol building, in front of the Colorado Veteran’s Monument. This event will have a reading of the Fallen, a wreath laying ceremony, presentations to family members of fallen soliders, and a special ceremony to honor Major Perry Jefferson from Buckley AFB, who was MIA and lost in Vietnam in 1969, but recently identified.
On Monday, May 26th, many of the cemeteries in Denver and the surrounding area will be holding special ceremonies for family members of service men and women, including wreath laying, bagpipes, dove releasing, and performances of military drill teams.
Whatever your plans for the weekend, please take a moment to honor those men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country. Without their bravery and honor, we wouldn’t have much to celebrate.
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