Colorado National Guard honors fallen soldiers and Gold Star Families with new memorial
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado National Guard recently unveiled a new memorial to honor its fallen warriors and Gold Star Families.
The War on Terrorism Remembrance Memorial at Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial is "a tribute to the courage of Colorado National Guard service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during contingency operations in support of the Global War on Terror," the Guard said.
“Our National Guard Family will continue to miss these brave Soldiers because of who they were and what they gave,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan said. “We are so grateful for our Gold Star Families as our Soldiers could not have served without their support.”
View more photos of the memorial here
The memorial display features a photo of each service member with a folded American flag and a Fallen Soldier Battle Cross in the center. The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross has a rifle thrust into the ground, signifying that the Soldier died in battle fighting to the end, the Guard said. A pair of combat boots carrying the Soldier through the fight for freedom appears at the base of the rifle. The helmet and identification tags represent the fallen Soldier, and that their name will never be forgotten.
The memorial pays tribute to the following Colorado National Guard service members:
- U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel A. Romero, died April 15, 2002
- U.S. Army Sgt. Luis R. Reyes, died Nov. 18, 2005
- U.S. Army Sgt. Jon L. Stiles, died Nov. 13, 2008
- U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 David R. Carter, died Aug. 6, 2011
- U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Liam J. Nevins, died Sept. 21, 2013
