Spirit of ’45 Day commemorating end of WWII, honored at Pikes Peak National Cemetery

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - People gathered at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Wednesday, honoring those who served in World War II for Spirit of '45 Day.

National Spirit of '45 Day takes place on the second Sunday of every August, coinciding with August 14, 1945, the day Japan surrendered, effectively ending the war.

It was an intimate ceremony with just a couple of dozen people there, keeping the legacy of World War II veterans alive.

The event featured speeches, wreath dedications and a minute of silence.

We spoke with people honoring World War II veteran family members at the ceremony, and there was one common thread.

“He didn’t talk a whole lot, and I think that’s the thing about a lot of WWII vets,” said LeRoy Trusty.

“He was typical WWII,” said Betty Evans. “Very little did he talk about it. You had to really pull it out of him.”

Betty and LeRoy both believe the quiet and humble nature of World War II vets can either be attributed to PTSD or the societal standards set way back when: to just serve, work hard and keep your head down.

They said that’s exactly why ceremonies like this one are so important, because, otherwise, the stories of our American heroes might not get passed down.

A similar ceremony will be held to honor service members who have passed on Veterans Day in November.

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