Ceremony at Veterans Memorial
Gilpin Community Center
A small but dedicated group of people gathered to honor our local veterans in a ceremony on Tuesday, November 11, on Veterans Day at the Gilpin County Veterans Memorial located near the Community Center. Linold Begg and Teodore Dominguez, both veterans, coordinated the noteworthy ceremony.
The ceremony started with Emma Berg, secretly hidden in the trees near the memorial, playing the haunting melody, “Taps,” on her trumpet; “Taps” is traditionally played at military funerals. It was beautifully rendered, seemingly more devout in nature as the notes drifted on the air from an unseen source.
After the song, Mr. Begg requested 11 seconds of silence to honor our veterans. The Pledge of Allegiance followed and was recited by all with hands over hearts. Veterans present were asked to step forward and introduce themselves. Some of the veterans were Denny Darby (Gilpin County Veteran Service Officer), Kent Bundy, Francis O’Neill, Dave Cotter, Norman Raymond, and Lewis Wagner.
Mr. Dominguez laid a red, white and blue wreath on the memorial. Mr. Begg requested another short period of silence “for the enemy in the other uniform” and for the veterans that gave all. He thanked Ms. Berg for her dedication over the past five years to playing “Taps” for the annual ceremony. One last time of silence was given for 21 seconds in lieu of a traditional 21-gun honor salute marking an important military celebration.
Thomas Lopez, an Army 82nd Airborne Division veteran, gave a speech beginning with what a beautiful day it was to gather to honor fallen soldiers. He said, “It’s not easy to be a soldier, to give up time of your life to serve.” Mr. Lopez observed that soldiers “need healing from killing people; it’s not a natural act.” Mr. Lopez concluded his message with a prayer for the “end of strife and beginning of peace.”
The ceremony concluded with more veterans informing the audience about their branch of service and tours of duty. Veteran Kent Bundy good-naturedly yelled out, “To my fellow vets, welcome home!”