The Southern Ute Veterans Association invites the community to welcome the Honor Bell on August 2.

On Sunday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the community is invited to gather at Southern Ute Veterans Park for a meaningful Honor Bell Ceremony dedicated to remembering and honoring America’s Veterans. This special event offers residents a unique opportunity to pay tribute to those who answered the call to serve our nation – and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Southern Ute Veterans Association and Community will have the honor to host the Honor Bell, a one-of-a-kind bronze bell forged to recognize the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. Created by the Honor Bell Foundation, each 1,000-pound bell contains artifacts from deceased Veterans representing multiple branches of military service, making every toll a symbolic tribute to those who served with courage and honor.

The Honor Bell’s visit to Ignacio was coordinated through the leadership of Howard Richards Sr., proud Vietnam Veteran, former Southern Ute Indian Tribe Chairman, and former Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander. He has brought this extraordinary ceremony from the Pikes Peak region to Southwest Colorado, giving our community the opportunity to participate in a tradition that is both deeply respectful and profoundly meaningful.

Native American men and women have a long and distinguished tradition of military service and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces at a higher per-capita rate than any other racial or ethnic group in the nation. Their commitment to protecting our freedoms reflects generations of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism.

The Honor Bell Ceremony is not only for military organizations – it is for everyone. If you have a family member or loved one who served in the Armed Forces and has passed away, you are warmly invited to attend and honor their memory during this special event. Whether they served during wartime or peacetime, every veteran deserves to be remembered with dignity and gratitude.

A unique part of the ceremony is the Seven Solemn Tolls, each representing a timeless value of military service:

• Choice to Serve – The veteran’s willingness to sacrifice their life for their country.
• Camaraderie – The bonds of friendship, family, and unity shared among those who served.
• Patriotism – Love of country and commitment to defend it.
• Respect – The reverence earned through honorable service.
• Dignity – The respectful treatment every fallen Veteran deserves.
• Honor – The lasting respect shown by fellow service members and the community.
• The Value of Life – A reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by those who gave everything for our freedom.

As each toll rings across the Southern Ute Veterans Park, let it serve as a powerful reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured by ordinary men and women who answered an extraordinary call!

Everyone is encouraged to attend this free community event, stand beside our Veterans and Gold Star families, and help ensure that the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes are never forgotten.

The Honor Bell Ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Southern Ute Veterans Park in Ignacio, Colo.

Together, let us honor those who served, remember those we have lost, and pass on a legacy of gratitude to future generations.

See official flyer on page 2 for detailed information and agenda for the Honor Bell Ceremony.