Community of Florissant gathers to remember fallen soldier
On this Fourth of July, the small community of Florissant came together as they honored a service member who lost his life in Afghanistan this past week.
Sgt. 1st Class Elliott Robbins who was just 31-yers-old died of a noncombat-related incident.
Mona Liedtke, a Florissant resident said, “I think it’s great to have all these people come out here to honor him and his family.”
“It gives me goosebumps sir. The American people are patriots, and they are here,” Veteran John Bartlett said.
Flags along with the Patriot Guard Riders lined the side of Highway 24 leading to the historic Costello Street Coffee House Thursday morning.
A ceremony was then held at the coffee house to honor Sgt. Robbins. Robbins and his wife, Victoria had recently bought the historic coffee house, a staple in Florissant. After Sgt. Robbins death, the coffee shop closed. But it reopened on the Fourth of July.
Norm Steen, Teller County Commissioner, and Veteran joined the ceremony and said, “What you are seeing here is people who just care about who we are as a Country, who are military is, the families that serve the people that are left behind when a service member dies. We care, we care deeply.”
While another Veteran in attendance Mark Agen added, “You know Fourth of July is a celebration of our independence and unfortunately, that came at a cost, a very large cost. It’s happening every day, soldiers are deployed all over the world. Just take a moment to think about them.”
The tragedy of Robbins death sprung people into action. Starting last night and into this morning friends, loved ones, neighbors, veterans, came out and lined the coffee house with hundreds of flags to show their support.
“Especially in a small community when you lose on you automatically feel the need to come to support the wife, the family, and the husband. You know, the dependents,” said Agen.
Master Sgt. Don Bartron who considered Robbins a dear friend said, “The outpouring today, it speaks to the love and concern that people really have in Teller County.”
Sgt. Robbins, who was just shy of his 32nd birthday, recently welcomed a newborn son into the world, Elliot Jr. and was just three weeks away from coming home. Master Sgt. Bartron was also a green beret during his time in the military, just like Robbins. He said Elliott was a dear friend and spoke to his character.
“He was a happy guy, great father, a great husband and when little Elliott was born he was tickled, and he had a great sense of humor that a lot of people got to see over time.”
This community is small but feels large on the patriotic holiday as they plan to step up and help the loved ones he left behind.
