Longmont community observes Memorial Day with reverence – Boulder Da…

The lives and legacies of fallen U.S. military veterans were honored during three Longmont-area Memorial Day ceremonies led by local veterans organizations on Monday.

Throughout the morning, ceremonies were held at Longmont’s Stephen Day Park, Foothills Gardens of Memory and Mountain View Cemetery. They were coordinated by members of the American Legion Post 32 and the Longs Peak VFW Post 2601, who presented wreaths in memory of the men and women who died during their service.

“We’re here to remember the sacrifices that they made so that we may be free and have the rights we have today,” Post 2601 quartermaster Leon Bartholomay told the small crowd at Foothills Gardens of Memory.

At each event, wreaths were placed by representatives from Post 32 and Post 2601 as well as both posts’ Auxiliary units, the Sons of the American Legion Post 32, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Longmont Elks Lodge 1055. A combined team consisting of members from both posts also performed a rifle salute while the Post 32 Honor Guard presented the colors.

The culminating ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery, 620 11th Ave., had around 200 people gather to watch the red, white and blue wreaths be displayed and to stand in quiet remembrance of the departed veterans.

Incoming Post 32 commander Ralph Bozella thanked the Longmont community for its support of the holiday, including volunteers who placed around 300 American flags at graves across Mountain View on Saturday. He shared his appreciation for people taking time out of their busy lives to pay respects.

“Thank you for your patriotism,” he told the crowd. “Your presence here just personifies the meaning of Memorial Day.”

Bozella also acknowledged the veterans who died by suicide after their service and those who died from their wounds years later.

“To me, there’s no greater form of honor than to learn from someone else’s sacrifice,” he said. “They paid the price, let’s learn. And we can do that by pledging right here and now to change our lives for the better.”

Bozella has been involved with Longmont’s Memorial Day observances for more than 30 years. The attendance at Mountain View on Monday is on par with previous ceremonies, though Bozella said he’d like to see even more attend next year – rain or shine.

“Two years ago it was cold and rainy, and (people) were here,” he said.

In his address to the crowd at Mountain View, Post 32 chaplain Ron Wunsch urged each guest to remember the sacrifices of service members in their own way and lean on each other in times of need.

“The American Dream is a fragile one … and by working together we can keep our country strong and healthy,” he said.