Dozens come to Las Animas to honor fallen navy vet who has no family

Dozens came out to Fort Lyons National Cemetery in Las Animas this morning to honor a military veteran who recently passed away.

Horace Marrinan, a Navy Veteran who served during the Korean War, had little family, and those who are still alive could not attend his internment on Wednesday.

However, the American Legion here in Colorado made sure military brothers and sisters would make their presence known.

“If there is a veteran being interred anywhere the American Legion will rally together to make sure there is someone there to represent that veteran,” said Dean Noechel, American Legion Department of Colorado Commander.

American Legion posts 6, 8, 9, 168, and 2015 were all in attendance. Some came all the way from Nebraska to pay their respects.

“It’s not my duty, it’s my honor,” said Pattiey Pennington with American Legion Post 8 out of Rocky Ford. “It’s very important that not a single veteran go unrecognized.”

But it wasn’t just the American Legion. A number of vets and private citizens came to Fort Lyons National Cemetery as well.

“I wasn’t going to leave him there alone. If I was the only one here he still would’ve had family here,” said Ronald Cardozo.

Cardozo is an army veteran himself. He found out about the internment ceremony on social media. American Legion used Facebook, Newspapers, and local television to get the word out about Wednesday’s ceremony.

“There was a huge turnout,” said Cardozo. I just felt obligated to be here. I told my girlfriend, I am not going to let this man be alone.”

Britany Chamberland and her husband, who is stationed at Fort Carson, made the drive down from Colorado Springs to Las Animas to be here.

“It’s not really an obligation but more of a privilege,” said Chamberland. “This man didn’t have family that could come out or for whatever the reason. I wanted to come and show my support, just because I know how difficult it can be not having anyone there.”

KRDO was able to get in contact with Barbara Gough, one of Horace’s little sisters. She lives in Upstate New York and couldn’t make it because of her own health issues.

When she heard around 100 people came to her brothers internment she was touched, and couldn’t put into words just how happy that made her feel.