Article Contributed on: 11/6/2006 12:22:57 PM
Monday, October 9th, and I'm standing near the top of the Central Mall that winds through the Florence American Cemetery in Italy. In front of me are the headstones of 4,402 Americans killed in action during fighting after the liberation of Rome and before the end of World War II.
Fifty-four of these headstones belong to Colorado veterans and after a brief walk I find myself standing in front of one of them. Private Joe Esquivel was a member of the 1st Armored Divisions 16th Engineering Batallion and was killed in action September 1st, 1944. The cemetery where Private Esquivel lays is absolutely beautiful. Cypress and Plane trees line the site and the grass is emerald green, even in October.
The American Battle Monuments Commission oversees the cemeteries where our fallen veterans are laid to rest around the world and they stop at nothing to honor these men and women every day. Far away from home these heroes are remembered by the staff here, but has the rest of us forgot them?
As I quietly thank the Private for his service and head towards the visitor's center, I notice how incredibly quiet it is at the cemetery. Not because people are being respectful, but because no one is there. In the visitor's center I'm told that there has been a significant decrease in the number of visitors they see. As the World War II generation dwindles in numbers, so do the people who come to pay their respects. No more reunion groups remembering old comrades and the battles they fought together. Not many brothers and sisters and spouses.
Now it's the occasional grandchild or great-grandchild. I ask if anyone from Colorado has come lately looking for a family member and I'm told they can't remember the last time that happened. Fifty-four Colorado veterans who seem to have been lost to history. Someone once said if we forget the sacrifice of these brave men and women it's as if they've been killed twice.
So this Veterans Day I encourage each and everyone who knows the story of any of the 54 Colorado veterans buried at the Florence-American Cemetery, or any other Colorado veteran killed or missing in action, to share it with others on YourHub.com.
The Stories of Sacrifice campaign is our effort to gather the histories of these remarkable people and archive them where future generations will be able to know their names, and a little about who they were. Several of you have written already and we thank you. There are over 6000 Colorado veterans who have been killed in action so we know there are a whole lot of stories that have yet to be shared.
Soon we will be dedicating the Colorado Freedom Memorial which will honor all of Colorado's war dead and give us a place to gather and reflect on their service and sacrifice. What truly brings that person back home though is honoring not only their name, but also their life well lived. Help us do that by sharing their Story of Sacrifice. And if you happen to know Private Joe Esquivel I'd especially love to hear from you.