By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Birchwood Communications LLC.
Here is more information on Memorial Day services in Craig, Steamboat Springs, South Routt, and Hayden.
Thursday, May 21
Local veterans are putting flags on the graves of veterans at the Steamboat Cemetery at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21. They’ll also be practicing the Memorial Day service, which is at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25.
Friday, May 22
American Flags are being placed at the Hayden Cemetery at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22. Anyone who would to help is invited.
Saturday, May 23
The Craig VFW Post 4265 is conducting their annual spring Poppy Drive on Saturday, May 23. It’s to raise funds to support veterans and to also raise awareness and honor the fallen, especially those from Moffat County. Look for the VFW table at the Moffat County Fairgrounds.
From VFW Post 4265: “During WWI, over 1 million soldiers from more than 50 countries were wounded, killed or went missing. The landscape was entirely devastated by relentless artillery shelling, poison gas and rainfall, which churned up the soil creating a perfect breeding ground for dormant poppies. The blood-soaked grounds provided iron rich soil that encouraged the growth of poppies. Each poppy that is distributed is in honor of the fallen. Not only those we’ve lost during WWI, but for those before and since.”
A poppy will be given to anyone who wants one, for donations only.
Sunday, May 24
In Craig, the American Legion Post 62 and VFW 4265 will be putting out flags at around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, in the Moffat County Cemetery. All are invited to help. The local Daughters of the American Revolution will be there around 5 p.m. to help as well. They’ll be putting the flags away at 5 p.m. on Monday after the ceremony and would appreciate any help then also.
May 25 – MEMORIAL DAY
Routt County veterans invite everyone to a Memorial Day Service at the Steamboat Springs Cemetery. It’s at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25.
Free shuttle service will be provided from the Stockbridge Transit Center at the Community Center by Steamboat Springs Transit. Buses begin loading at 9:30 a.m.
Veterans and their families who participated in the service are invited to the Steamboat Springs Community Center afterwards for lunch, courtesy of the Routt County Cattlewomen.
A Veterans Memorial Service is at the Moffat County Cemetery at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25. The American Legion Post 62 and VFW 4265 will be putting out flags at around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. All are invited. The local Daughters of the American Revolution will be there around 6 p.m.
August Wallihan Chapter, NSDAR, Craig
In South Routt, the Bird-Howe Post 189 is having services in the Yampa Cemetery at 11 a.m. and the Oak Creek Cemetery at 1 p.m.
The American Legion Post 89 is hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony at 6 p.m. in the Hayden Cemetery. It is open to the public. The Legion Post will host a free dinner afterwards, at 220 S. 3rd Street in Hayden.
MEMORIAL DAY INFORMATION
From Leo Hill American Legion Post 44
Decoration Day started in 1868 when Commander and Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued general order 11, that the 30th day in May, designated for the purpose of strewing flowers or otherwise decorating graves of those who died in defense of their Country.
States began adopting the day and it became a National Holiday known as Decoration Day. The day became a tradition to not only recognize deceased veterans, but also to decorate and remember family members. It was not until 1971 when the “last Monday” in May would become a National Holiday known as Memorial Day.
James Crawford, the founder of Steamboat Springs, started the first Decoration Day in Steamboat Springs with a picnic on what is now called Dream Island. Decoration Day became an important community event as this became a day when not only the townspeople, but the ranchers and farmers all gathered at the cemetery not only to remember their past relatives by decorating graves, but as a time to put the spring work down and spend time with neighbors and friends after a long winter of isolation.
The first Decoration Day to honor veterans was started in 1922 when the newly formed Leo Hill American Legion Post 44 placed flowers on two graves of deceased Civil War veterans and one World War I veteran. The Legion and, starting in 1946, VFW Post 4264 have conducted a Memorial Day service every year to honor local veterans that have passed on.
Unfortunately, today Memorial Day signals the first summer three-day weekend for getting outdoors and doing summer activities. Most forget that paying tribute to our Nation’s veterans on this specific day should be regarded as a civic obligation. For this is a national debt that can only be repaid by individual Americans by honoring the nation’s deceased veterans and preserving their memory and thus their service and sacrifice.
This year the Memorial Service will honor two Routt County Soldiers who died in World War I and two airmen that died in World War II. Of the thousands that served from Routt County from World War I (1917), to date 64 have died defending our freedoms. From WWI, 21 died, from WWII 36 service members lost their lives. The Korean War claimed four Routt County soldiers and two were killed in Vietnam. Iraqi Freedom claimed one soldier.
Being honored this year are: From WWI Private Ben J. Hofstetter from Hayden, Killed in the battle of Argonne Forest 1918, and Seargent John H. Bird of Yampa, killed in the battle of Soissons 1918, From World War II, two Steamboat aviators: Flight Officer Walter E. Law Jr. killed in a training crash January 1943 and Flight Officer Neil Taylor in a crash over India in May 1945. (MORE BELOW)
The Service will be the traditional lowering of the flag, and the placing of a memorial wreath on the veteran monument. Also, tribute will be paid to the Missing in Action from all wars and those who may still be held as prisoners of war. The ceremony will end with the traditional 21-gun salute and taps.
Since the roads are narrow and parking is limited in the cemetery, the Steamboat Transit will provide bus service from the Transit Center starting at 9:30 a.m. with the last bus leaving at 10:30 a.m. Buses will return right after the conclusion of the service. If at all possible, please plan to ride the bus to and from the cemetery. Steamboat Police and Sheriff Departments will also assist with traffic and crowd control.
WORLD WAR I
UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR IN 1917 AND ENDED WITH THE ARMISTICE 1918
Twenty-one Routt County Service Men Lost their Lives
Benjamin John Hofstetter was born in Dalton, Ohio, March 23rd, 1896. He was the son of Peter and Katherine Hofstetter. The family moved to Hayden, Colorado where he grew up in a house on Poplar Street.
In October of 1918, Private Hofstetter found himself thousands of miles from home, surrounded by tense fighting and enemy German soldiers in northern France, close to the German border. He and his unit were a part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the largest and deadliest campaigns in U.S. military history.
The 22-year-old private, who had graduated from Hayden High School in 1913, was a member of the 77th Infantry Division, or what became known as the “Lost Battalion,” which consisted of more than 550 men. Isolated and surrounded in the Argonne Forest by German forces following an American advance, the unit endured constant artillery fire, severe shortages of supplies, and devastating friendly fire. Only 194 men of the 550 who entered the forest walked out safely.
Benjamin Hofstetter was among the many soldiers who were killed in action during the campaign, and he would never again return to the Yampa Valley. In honor of his service, American Legion Post 89 in Hayden is named after him. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
John Harvey Bird‘s family were some of the first homesteaders in Egeria Park establishing ranches in 1882 and 1883. John was born in Yampa Colorado the son of Ulysses and Iona Bird. He received his education at one of the first country schools in the Yampa area. He worked on the family ranch until he entered the service in May of 1917. He became a Sergeant in Troop G 1st Colorado Cavalry which was merged into the 157 Infantry; Company M 110th Infantry, 28th Division. He was sent to France in August of 1918.
Bird was the first of two Yampa soldiers to die in World War I. He was killed in France at the battle of Soissons on August 26th 1918. He is buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery.
The first Yampa American Legion Post 129 was named after him and the current Yampa American Legion Post is named after him and Private First Class Westly Howe. Approximately 85% of the military age men living in Yampa and the surrounding area joined the military during World War I.
WORLD WAR II
UNITED STATES ENTERED ON DECEMBER 7
BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR ENDED SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 WITH JAPAN’S SURRENDER
36 ROUTT COUNTY SERVICE MEN LOST THEIR LIVES
Walter E. Law Jr. was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, and graduated from the University of Colorado and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was admitted to the Navy Air Corps in 1942. He was doing flight training at Los Alamitos Field in California when he died in a training crash in late December of 1942.
His body was brought back to Steamboat Springs by Ensign Linn from his squadron and military honors were rendered at his burial on January 7, 1943 by members of American Legion Post 44.
During his training he was regarded in high esteem by the other officers in his squadron and had just completed his training. Ensign Linn presented Mrs. Law with his wings and the flag that covered his casket.
Lt. Homer Bash a Steamboat local and future owner of an auto sales business in Steamboat came from his naval post of assist the family and attend the funeral. This attested to the affection of the entire community for this popular young man and his family.
Flight Officer Neil Taylor, 27, and a native of Routt County was killed while as a navigator flying over the “Burma Hump” when his plane went down on May 8, 1945. His wife Mrs. Gladys Taylor received notice from the War Department on May 17,1945. Burma Campaign
Officer Taylor joined the Army in February 1943 and trained at Jefferson Barracks in Sioux City, Iowa, and also in Monroe, Louisiana. He was home in early January 1945 when he received his overseas orders.
His body was not recovered until the fall of 1948 and was brought home to Steamboat Springs for burial in Sept. 1948. He married Miss Gladys Mcfarlane in March of 1944 and at the time of his death he had a 3 month old daughter Roberta Jean that he had never seen.
His father lived in Steamboat Springs for many years and Taylor had numerous cousins in the Yampa and Phippsburg communities.