Article Contributed on: 9/15/2006 9:56:49 AM
Thirty-nine. As I write this that's the number of Colorado veterans who have been killed in Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Are you surprised by that number? Do you know who they were?
Tommy Slocum of Northglenn was the first. A young man who had finally found his way in life, as a Marine Lance Corporal. He believed with all his heart in what he was doing.
On Veterans Day 2004, Marine Staff Sergeant
Theodore Holder,
Sam, gave his life saving the lives of fellow Marines. It's an amazing story of heroism. For Sam and the other 38, it's also a story of love. A love for their country so strong they would sacrifice their lives for it.
A dinner was held recently in Aurora where the families of those killed in action in the war on terror were presented with the medals their sons earned giving their lives for us. The citation that accompanies each medal was read and it was overpowering.
Anyone who doubted whether this generation would answer the call of duty should read these citations. In fact, it seems we have some kind of obligation to make sure that these heroes, and all those who died in action before them, are never forgotten.
A campaign is underway to take care of that and we'd like your help.
The
Colorado Freedom Memorial is a glass-walled monument to be built on two-acres in Aurora's Signature Park. The park will be located outside the west-fence of Buckley Air Force Base. You can see the plans for the Memorial and learn all about the project by visiting
www.cfmf.net. It's the first memorial in the nation to list those who died in all wars, from all branches of service on the same monument.
Since Colorado became a state, 6,000 of our sons and daughters have served their nation on the battlefields and been killed in action. Four-dozen in the Spanish-American War, just over 1,000 in World War I, nearly 4,000 in World War II, a couple hundred in Korea, almost 700 in Vietnam, a couple in the first Gulf War and now 39 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those 6,000 names will be etched on the Colorado Freedom Memorial so that families of those lost will know that we did not forget.
Your Hub.com has joined with the Colorado Freedom Memorial Foundation and Studio 1430,
KEZW-AM, to launch a very important part of the campaign. We want to know the stories behind the 6,000 names that will be etched on the memorial. For that we need you.
We invite you to send your stories and photos of those loved ones from Colorado who were killed or are missing in action. The names are important, but the stories will pay tribute to lives well lived. Your stories will be printed in Your Hub.com, delivered with the
Rocky Mountain Newsand
The Denver Post,and archived on the Colorado Freedom Memorial Web site. That way, future generations of Colorado residents will know personally the people who made the ultimate sacrifice for their freedom. Once you've written the story,
post it at YourHub.com, and keep an eye on this space as we present Colorado's true heroes each week.
It starts with one story. Then others will write and slowly we will compile the book of extraordinary deeds that brave men and women accomplished in the name of freedom. A story of love that we can only honor by remembering their sacrifice.
Post your stories of sacrifice by clicking here.
Rick Crandall is the station manager of KEZW-AM.