Highlands Ranch honors fallen service members

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As American ags were placed at graves across the nation, local residents gathered at the Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument on Memorial Day to honor fallen service members and pay tribute to all veterans.

David Simonson, a Highlands Ranch Metro District board member and Army veteran, welcomed the crowd and paid respects to the three Highlands Ranch residents who were killed in action while serving the United States armed forces on the memorial dedication stone. ey are Army Sta Sgt. Christopher Falkel, Sgt. John Stiles and Cpl. Max Donahue.

Simonson recognized those in attendance who have lost a family member who served in the United States armed forces.

Tim Ralph, chaplain of the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce, then led the event in the invocation.

Retired U.S. Navy Captain and Highlands Ranch Metro District board member Andy Jones spoke about the signi cance of Memorial Day. Born out of the Civil War, the holiday is to honor all men and

Six One Five Collective

Friday, June 23 at

8pm

Lone Tree Arts Center

Tickets: lonetreeartscenter.org

720.509.1000 women who have lost their lives during military service. e National Moment of Remembrance Act became law in December of 2000, which asks Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for one minute.

“ e moment is not meant to replace traditional Memorial Day events, rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died in the service of the United States Armed Forces in all wars,” said Jones.

Retired U.S. Marine o cer and state Rep. Robert Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, shared the origins of the poppy as a remembrance symbol, dating to a September 1920 designation by the American Legion.

Following Je Emanuel of the Highlands Ranch Concert Band playing taps, members of the Highlands Ranch American Legion Post 1260 raised the American ag to full sta . ere was then a moment of silence.

With Boy Scout Troop 873 members behind him, Silas Wagner led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and Jay Allen played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.