It has been 545 days since Coloradans were able to gather without face masks, temperature checks and social distancing. But on a beautiful, sunny, May 29th morning, a crowd of patriotic Coloradans took time to remember other Coloradans who gave their lives in service to their country. The Colorado Freedom Memorial (CFM) resumed it’s annual Memorial Day recognition with Colorado Remembers, a very moving and memorable ceremony giving tribute to those who gave all.
The glass panels which display the names of over 6,000 Coloradans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The America the Beautiful Chorus kicked off the ceremony with a rousing rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. The chorus also sang God Bless America, Mansions of the Lord and America the Beautiful in support of a very emotional program of remembrance.
The chorus makes final preparations before the ceremony.
Rick Crandall, President and Founder of the CFM, emceed the program with his uncanny ability to give comforting remarks when necessary and provide humor when it was most needed. Remarks were also made by U. S. Senator Bill Bennett, Congressman Jason Crow and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman.
Rick Crandall, President and Founder of the Colorado Freedom Memorial.
The U. S. Space Force Flag was added to the array of service flags that line the walkways throughout the CFM park. Members of the U. S. Space Force did the honor of raising their flag smartly to the top of the flagpole before slowly lowering it to half-mast. All flags at the CFM fly permanently at half staff in honor of those veterans who have fallen.
CFM flags permanently fly at half-mast.
Perhaps the most remarkable and memorable part of the ceremony was the remarks made by Mr. Jack Adler who was born in Poland in 1929. He witnessed the decay of humanity while enduring life in two ghettos and the horrors of three concentration camps. His younger sister was killed at Auschwitz, his older sister died at Bergen-Belsen, his brother and mother died in the Pabianice ghetto in Poland, and his father in Dachau. At 16, Mr. Adler was liberated by American soldiers and moved to the U. S. as a war orphan. Though his entire family was murdered by the Nazis, he still has hope for the human race and emphasizes the importance of respecting others.
Jack Adler delivering his remarks and memories of his many years in Nazi concentration camps.
The flag of the U. S. Army’s 157th Infantry Regiment was raised and added to the flag array at CFM. Soldiers of the 157th were the ones who liberated the Dachau concentration camp where Jack Adler was imprisoned. Mr. Adler assisted in the raising of the flag.
The ceremony was capped off with a solemn playing of taps by an Army bugler and by the final asking of God’s blessing through the benediction. The America the Beautiful Chorus treated the crowd to its signature version of America the Beautiful. It was a most fitting finale to a memorable ceremony.
