By Shannon Lukens.
Monday, May 29, is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May.
Memorial Day services in Craig are at 11 a.m. Monday, at the Craig Cemetery. There is also a Memorial/Dedication of VFW Post #4265 at 1 p.m. Monday, May 29, at the Moffat County Fairgrounds for Grand Old West Days.
This is the World War II Memorial in Craig.
In Steamboat Springs, Memorial Day services are at 11 a.m. Monday at the Steamboat Springs cemetery. It is hosted by the American Legion Post 44 and Veterans of Foreign War Post 4264, honoring the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
There will be a 21-gun salute and the lowering of the flag to half-staff, and taps, with Maureen Hogue singing America the Beautiful.
There are 64 service members from Routt County who have died, and their names will be read.
- 21 Routt County service members died in World War I
- 36 Routt County service members died in World War II
- Four Routt County service members died in the Korean War
- Two Routt County residents were killed in action in Vietnam
- One Routt County soldier was killed during Iraqi Freedom
Parking is limited. The City of Steamboat Springs asks that you ride a free shuttle up to the Memorial Day Ceremony Monday. It leaves from the Stockbridge Transit Center, starting at 9:45 a.m.
Flags are being picked up off of the graves at the cemetery at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31.
Here’s more on Memorial Day and the history of Memorial Day in Steamboat Springs, provided from Jo Stanko.
NEWS RELEASE; MEMORIAL DAY MAY 29, 2023
VETERANS TO OBSERVE MEMORIAL DAY
Members of Steamboat Springs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4264 and American Legion Post 44 will be honoring and remembering the sacrifices made by local veterans in the service of our Country. This is a tradition that has been conducted since 1922 as a community event to honor and remember our local veterans that have passed on.
The first Memorial Day was held in 1922 when 26 members of newly formed American Legion Post gathered in front of the courthouse, (now the Lorenz Building) for a patriotic speech, then marched to the cemetery where they decorated the graves of four deceased veterans. Charles Laub Civil War, James Noyce and Guy Utter both died in WWI and Daniel Fletcher a WWI veteran that died in 1921. They fired the traditional rifle salute with the newly acquired 1917 Springfield bolt action rifles. After the ceremony, a picnic was held on Dream Island. This tradition for recognizing our deceased veterans has continued every year since. It has been a joint American Legion/VFW service since 1948.
The public is invited to attend this year’s Memorial Day ceremony which will begin at 11 a.m. at the flag pole Veteran’s Memorial in the Steamboat Springs Cemetery. It is advised to arrive at least a half hour before the start of the ceremony. Parking is limited, so BUSES WILL AGAIN BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE TO THE CEMETERY. Buses will start loading at the Steamboat Transit Center at 9:30 a.m. with the first bus leaving at 9:45 a.m. The last bus will leave the transit center at 10:30 in order to be at the cemetery by 11 a.m. Buses will return to the transit center at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Each year the Posts pays tribute to deceased veterans in different ways to honor their service. This year, the Posts will honor the service of the 64 Routt County veterans killed or who died during wars the United States have been involved in from World War I to Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-one names will be read from World War I, 36 names from World War II, four names from the Korean War, two names from the Vietnam War and one name from Iraqi Freedom.
The local Boy and Girl Scouts will be invited to participate along with cadets form the Civil Air Patrol Squadron. Favorite Maureen Hogue will continue the tradition of singing “America the Beautiful” during the lowering of the flag along with other songs. The ceremony will end with the traditional rifle salute and the playing of taps.
Memorial Day is the time to remember our local veterans from the Civil War through the present conflicts. It is a time to remember that they not only served in our Nation’s military but came home to build the businesses and ranches that make our community a great place to live and raise families.
Memorial Day was begun in 1868 when General John A. Logan in General Order 11, designated May 30 as a day to strew flowers on the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their Country. The event became known as Decoration Day, and became not only a tradition of remembering veterans, but also an event for families to remember departed family members. Over the years, it became customary for families to gather at local cemeteries to decorate family graves, then attend the military services to honor the fallen veterans. Attending these ceremonies was a symbol of patriotism and a way to honor and preserve the memory of who through their service sacrificed to preserve the freedoms that all Americans enjoy. In 1971, the National Holiday Act created a three-day holiday during the last weekend of May. Many feel that this three-day holiday has undermined the meaning of Memorial Day as now many Americans use the time as the first spring get-away from work Since 9-11 and our military involvement in the “War on Terrorism” all across the nation there has been renewed attendance at Memorial Day ceremonies. The same is true here in Steamboat Springs. Over the last few years, attendance at this ceremony has been terrific and the members of the Post greatly appreciate those that take the time to honor and remember the Nation’s deceased veterans to preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice. Please join us again this Memorial Day on Monday May 29.
For more information contact Jim Stanko at 879-3936.
From the City of Steamboat Springs; May 22, 2023.
SST Shuttle Service Runs For Memorial Day Ceremony
Ceremony Honors Men & Women Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-May 22, 2023-As the county prepares to pay tribute to the men and women of the US Armed Forces this Memorial Day, Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) is ready to drive on its tradition of transporting participants to the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Steamboat Springs Cemetery.
Steamboat Springs’ Memorial Day Ceremony is hosted by the American Legion & Veterans of Foreign War and honors the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our county. The long-standing local ceremony features opening remarks, 21-gun salute, lowering the flag to half-staff and taps. In addition, the Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol Cadets will place an American flag on the graves of veterans in the cemetery.
With limited parking at the cemetery, attendees are encouraged to use the FREE SST shuttle, which will operate from the Stockbridge Multimodal Center to the cemetery on Monday, May 29.
Buses will be in place at 9:30am, with the first departure to the cemetery at 9:45am. Shuttles will run continuously until the last bus departs at 10:30am.
Buses will pick up passengers in front of the Stockbridge Bus Depot and drop off at the ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony, shuttles will operate back to the Stockbridge from the cemetery.
Buses are ADA compliant (wheelchair ramps and securements). Pets are not allowed on the bus, but service animals, within guidelines are permitted. Please arrive early and remember that the service begins promptly at 11am.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it was created in the years following the Civil War and became a federal holiday in 1971 celebrated on the last Monday in May. This holiday is meant for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle, or because of a wound sustained in battle.