Dozens visit Memorial Park to honor fallen heroes

Dozens of people paid tribute to our fallen heroes Monday by visiting the Veterans’ Memorial in Memorial Park.

Ken Austin stopped by with his trumpet in tow, and played several patriotic songs, including the National Anthem.

“This morning it just hit me and I felt like coming out to the park, to Memorial Park, and paying homage to what it’s all about because we can’t take that lightly and we can’t ever, ever, ever forget about it,” Austin told KRDO NewsChannel 13. “This is my first time doing it, but from this point on I will promise to come and pay respects to our fallen soldiers and our soldiers that are serving right now.”

William and Lala Martinez visited the park with their 6-year-old great granddaughter, showing her each memorial.

“We were just explaining, telling her, ‘We wouldn’t be free if it wouldn’t be for them,'” Lala Martinez said.

William Martinez, a veteran himself, became emotional when talking about service members who sacrificed their lives.

“I knew a lot of these young soldiers that were in Vietnam and got killed,” he said. “Talking about that is hard. We should be grateful that they’re doing what they’re doing and have done in the past, keeping us free and safe.”

The Veterans Memorial offers a memorial for each branch of service.