Vietnam Veteran’s reunion graces Durango

Friday - October 12, 2018 by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
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Southern Ute Veterans, Raymond Baker and Rudly Weaver don headdresses during the veteran’s ceremony, Saturday, Oct. 6.
Veterans and supporters pack the VFW on Friday night for the inaugural Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion.
Durango City Mayor, Sweety Marbury thanks the veterans for their service.
Southern Ute elder, and veteran, Dr. James Jefferson takes the podium at the VFW.
Howard Richards Sr. reflects on Vietnam and the veterans association.
Southern Ute Navy Veteran, Raymond Baker posts the American Flag at the VFW.
The inaugural Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion was an occasion distinguished by gallant ceremony.
Members of the Southern Ute Veterans Association gathered in regalia to post the colors along the Animas River footbridge, following a traditional Ute blessing at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Durango, Colo.
Vietnam Veteran Rod Grove helps to organize the ceremony and performs the blessing of the wreath, Saturday, Oct. 6.
Southern Ute Navy veteran, Raymond Baker leads the association in the posting of colors — Saturday, Oct. 6.
Honorees of the Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion walk alongside the color guard during Saturday’s ceremony.
Vietnam veteran Rod Grove gives a salute.
Koran War veteran, and Southern Ute tribal elder, Dr. James Jefferson gave the invocation in his customary Ute language.
Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander and Vietnam veteran, Howard Richards Sr. plays the “taps” on the Animas River footbridge.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
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The VFW hosted their first Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion Friday, Oct. 5 — Saturday, Oct 6, in Durango, Colo. Presentations and memories were shared at the VFW on Friday night, with Durango Mayor Sweetie Marbury in attendance. The following morning, a small ceremony was held alongside the Animas River, with a posting of the colors by Southern Ute Veterans Assoc., an invocation by Dr. James Jefferson — culminating with the blessing of a ceremonial wreath, carried downstream through the River of Lost Souls.

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