Colorado Springs mothers share memories of sons killed in action
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — On this Veterans Day, Gold Star Mothers Cleo Allgood and Scoti Domeij reflect on the lives and legacies of their sons who died fighting for our freedom.
Gold Star Mothers are entitled to display a Gold Star on a service flag to honor a child who died while fighting for the United States of America.
Col. Brian D. Allgood was a 1978 graduate of Air Academy High School. He went on to graduate from West Point. Allgood was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the top American medical officer when he died in a helicopter crash in January 2007.
His mother, Cleo, joined KRDO Newschannel 13 for its second annual Colorado Honor Telethon. It raised thousands of dollars to buy wreaths to place on veterans’ graves ahead of the holidays.
KRDO: Most of the parades and typical events we have to honor veterans have been canceled this year because of COVID-19. How are you doing on this Veterans Day?
Cleo Allgood: We do not want our loved ones to be forgotten, and we always say, as long as you say their name they’re not forgotten. That is one thing I really like about Wreaths Across America. Before you place a wreath, you have to say the name of the person you’re placing it for.
KRDO: You have ties to the Pikes Peak National Cemetery, where the first round of these wreaths are going to go. That must be special for you.
Cleo Allgood: I have placed the wreaths last year and it was a beautiful sight when every grave at the cemetery had a wreath on it.
Gold Star Mother Scoti Domeij also spoke with KRDO during the telethon. Her son Sgt. First Class Kristoffer Domeij spent his childhood in Colorado Springs. He went on to join the army as an adult but never made it home from his fourteenth deployment. Domeij is the most deployed soldier in American history to be killed in action. His mother parachuted into Normandy, France last summer to honor her son and other veterans on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
KRDO: There are so many memories that keep your son’s spirit alive. Talk to us about him.
Scoti Domeij: He was the Army’s first qualified JTAC Evaluato. That’s the Joint Terminal Attack Controller. That’s the guy on the ground telling the Army Navy and Air Force where to shoot the missiles.
KRDO: In one way of honoring him, you did something pretty impressive last year on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Tell us about that.
Scoti Domeij: Well I was on Facebook one day and I noticed one of his buddies was going to jump and I sent him a message asking if it would be possible to jump with other Rangers to honor my son and all the other people who have died for our freedom. And he said yes.”
Although the telethon is over, donations will still be accepted leading up to the holiday season. You can donate money to buy wreaths for veterans here.
