Memorial Day: A solemn remembrance

Friday - June 2, 2023 by Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

The Day of Remembrance procession, led by Raymond Baker (Navy – retired) and Terry Knight (USAF), followed by the Color Guard, near the Ouray Memorial Cemetery to close out the Memorial Day ceremony.

Bill Morris (USMC) generously accepts a serving of pulled pork from Joseph Richardson of Porky's Smokehouse. Porky's is a Texas Style Smokehouse based in Ignacio, Colo.

Bill Morris (USMC) made a return to play “Taps” to close out the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.

Bruce LeClaire (Army) holds the Southern Ute Veterans Association flag with other members of the Color Guard at the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.

Raymond Baker, Southern Ute (Navy – retired) and Terry Knight, Ute Mountain Ute (USAF).

Master of Ceremonies, Howard Richards Sr. (Army) and Commander SW Veterans Indian Association, Avalino Calabaza (Army) present wreaths to the Memorial Monuments for Chief Ouray and Buckskin Charlie.

Day of Remembrance color guard, are comprised of Southern and Ute Mountain Ute veterans.

Ute Mountain Ute veteran, Conrad Jacket (Army) joins members of the Southern Ute Police Department in a 21-gun salute.

Master of Ceremonies, Southern Ute Veteran, Howard Richards (Army) raises and lowers the American flag to half-mast.

The Southern Ute singers sing a Flag song to begin the Day of Remembrance closing ceremonies at Ouray Memorial Cemetery.

Father Cesar of St. Ignatius Parish in Ignacio, Colo. gives a prayer at the Chief Ouray and Buckskin Charlie Monuments in the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.

Flags carried by the Color Guard are in full-furl as they near the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.

Ute Mountain Ute spiritual leader, Terry Knight (USAF) offered a wreath into the Pine River in remembrance of those men and women lost at sea.

Brothers in arms, Russell Box Sr., and Austin Box stand side by side in the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park.

Commander of the SW Veterans Indian Association, Avalino Calabaza (Santo Domingo) shakes hands with fellow Vietnam veteran Tim Watts (Southern Ute). Calabaza and Watts served in the same unit in Vietnam.

Ashley Vicenti, daughter of Starlene Naranjo and Nelson Naranjo accept a photo of Alden Naranjo Jr., as a Special Recognition for his time leading peyote meetings, sweat lodge ceremonies, helping people in various spiritual meetings.

Darrin "Bear" Edson, UAF Operations Superintendent, received a blanket from Raymond Baker and Bruce LeClaire on behalf of the Southern Ute Veterans Association, as a special recognition.

Veterans Service Officer – Farmington, NM Office, Beverly Charley, a 14-year veteran, spoke of her time stationed in Somalia.

Commander of the Southwest Veterans Association, Avalino Calabaza (Army) of the Santo Domingo was one of the guest speakers. "We serve for freedom so all mankind can have a good life in this world," Calabaza said.

Master of Ceremonies, Southern Ute Veteran, Howard Richards (Army) and Commander of the Southern Ute Veterans Association reflects on what it means to be a veteran and reminds those in attendance of the meaning of Memorial Day. "Ask a family member who has lost a loved one in the military what it means to them," Richards said.

Southern Ute Veteran, Rod Grove (Army) introduces the dignitaries and guest speakers during the Day of Remembrance ceremony.

Southern Ute Vice Chairman, Lorelei Cloud offered words of gratitude to all Veterans and the sacrifice of those who lost their lives defending our homelands and freedoms.

Guest speaker, Ute Mountain Ute Chairman, Manuel Heart offered greetings from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, paying respect to American veterans.

Marlena Valdez, a long-time participant at the annual Day of Remembrance ceremony, sings the National Anthem.

Southern Ute Veteran, Ronnie C. Baker (Army) bows his head during the Day of Remembrance ceremony.

Southern Ute Veteran, Tim Watts (Army) and Miss Southern Ute, Grace Gonzales place a wreath at the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial.

Southern Ute Veteran, Pete Vigil (Army), salutes during the flag song by Red Spirit of Ft. Duchesne, Utah.

Loni Acevedo (Army) Southern Ute, Bradley Hight (Army) Ute Mountain Ute join other veterans in saluting during a flag song by Red Spirit of Ft. Duchesne, Utah.

Raymond Baker (Southern Ute – Navy retired), Gordon Hammond (Ute Mountain Ute – USMC), and Bruce Valdez (Southern Ute – Army) stand at attention after raising and lowering the flags to half-staff at the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park.

Bruce Valdez (Southern Ute – Army).

Raymond Baker (Southern Ute – Navy retired).

Bruce Valdez (Southern Ute – Army), Gordon Hammond (Ute Mountain Ute – USMC) and Raymond Baker (Southern Ute – Navy retired) raise and lower the flags to half-mast in the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park.

Father Cesar of the St. Ignatius Parish, alongside Ute Mountain Ute spiritual leader, Terry Knight Sr.

Southern Ute Veterans Association member, Bruce LeClaire shakes hands with Bill Morris (USMC).

Ute Mountain Ute Spiritual leader, Terry Knight (USAF) gave the invocation to begin the Day of Remembrance ceremony on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 at the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park. Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander, Howard Richards Sr. (Army) was the Master of Ceremonies for this year's program.

Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

The annual Day of Remembrance program was hosted by the Southern Ute Veterans Association at Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park, Monday, May 29. Howard Richards Sr. (Army) was the Master of Ceremonies. An invocation was given by Terry Knight (USAF). Parade and Flag songs performed by Red Spirit (Ft. Duchesne, Utah) and the National Anthem by Marlena Valdez. Guest speakers included, SU Vice-Chairman, Lorelei Cloud; UMU Chairman, Manuel Heart; VSO Beverly Charley; and Commander SWVIA Avalino Calabaza. The procession offered a wreath into the Pine River by Knight and concluded at Ouray Memorial Cemetary with a prayer by Father Cesar, Flag and Prayer songs by the Southern Ute Drum group and Red Spirit respectively, and “Amazing Grace” sang by Marlena Valdez. Closing with a 21-Gun Salute, and “Taps” by Bill Morris (USMC).

Tags: Avalino Calabaza, Beverly Charley, Bill Morris, Bruce Valdez, Day of Remembrance, Father Cesar, Gordon Hammond, Howard Richards Sr., Marlena Valdez, Ouray Memorial Cemetary, Raymond Baker, Red Spirit drum group, Rod Grove, Southern Ute Singers, Southern Ute Veterans, Southern Ute Veterans Association, Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park, Southern Ute Vice-Chairman Lorelei Cloud, Terry Knight Sr., Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Heart