DHS Vietnam Veterans Assoc. reunites in recognition of sacrifice

Former Durango Mayor, Sweetie Marbury, was gifted a coffee mug and a glass framing of the association’s patches on Friday, Sept. 20 at the VFW where the second annual Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion was held.

Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander, Howard Richards Sr. salutes the flag.

Gordon Hammond of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe performs Color Guard duties with the association.

Vietnam veteran, and longtime Durango resident, David Martinez addresses attendees at the Vietnam Memorial in Iris Park on Saturday morning.

Members of the Southern Ute Veterans Association carry the flags along the Animas River Trail adjacent to Iris park.

Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander and Vietnam veteran, Howard Richards Sr. plays the “taps” on the footbridge overlooking the Animas River.

Vietnam Veteran Rod Grove gave an invocation before releasing a ceremonial wreath into the Animas River.

Attendees pay their respects following the ceremony, as the Color Guard retires the colors along Schneider Park footbridge.

Tim Ryder, and son, Bird Red sing a flag song during the ceremony, which was set against the backdrop of the Animas River.

Southern Ute Veteran Rudly Weaver brings in the Southern Ute Flag during the veteran’s ceremony.

The Southern Ute Veterans Association attended the second annual Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4031, Friday, Sept. 20. The Ute veterans were honored with a plaque as a token of appreciation by the DHS Vietnam Veterans.

McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum

Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum

McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum

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Fri Sep 27th, 2019 , by Staff report |

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) held their 2^nd annual Durango High School Vietnam Veterans Reunion Friday, Sept. 20— Saturday, Sept. 21, in Durango, Colo. Presentations took place at VFW Post 4031, Friday night, with former mayor of Durango, Sweetie Marbury in attendance. Saturday morning, a small ceremony was held at Iris Park, neighboring the Animas River, with a posting of the colors by the Southern Ute Veterans Association, an invocation by Southern Ute veteran Rod Grove — concluded by sending a wreath downstream, ceremoniously offered to the River of Lost Souls.