Salute to heroes

By Ben Cason

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center hosted their Salute to Heroes event on the campus of Pueblo Community College on Jan. 19. A crowd of nearly 250 people attended the event. The event had a mix of active-duty military, veterans, dignitaries and other Puebloans in attendance. The keynote speaker for the event was Major Drew Dix, one of Pueblo’s Medal of Honor recipients.

“I’ve been to a few places who had these events; those weren’t as full as this one,” Dix said. The event had a silent auction as well as the opportunity to give to Mt. Carmel. The focus was to encourage us to volunteer, donate or check in on a veteran.

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center provides transition and employment assistance, behavioral health and wellness, supportive services, connection to community resources and safe event space for veterans, military members and their families.

Drew Dix joined the US Army in 1962. He demonstrated faithful service to his country throughout his career and was awarded the Medal of Honor during his tour as a Special Forces Sergeant. This made him the first enlisted man in the US Army Special Forces to receive the award.

After his years in active duty, he co-founded the Center for American Values and founded CO. REMUDA LLC. Which specializes in helping active and returning military.

“We need to take care of our veterans,” Dix said. “Not just for the veterans now, but the future, so they know our values prevail.” iHeartRadio’s Nick Donovan was the emcee for the event.

“It’s more than a motto, it’s a way of life around here: The Home of Heroes,” Donovan said.

The four recipients of the Medal of Honor from Pueblo include: Pvt. William J. Crawford, Army, WWII — 1943; Capt. Carl L. Sit- ter, Marines, Korean War — 1953; Lt. Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy, Marines, Korean War – 1953, and Sgt. Drew D. Dix, Army, Vietnam War — 1968.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, upon presenting Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy with his Medal in 1953 commented, “What is it… something in the water out there in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!”

“I’m proud to be a part of Pueblo,” Dix said. “One of the main reasons I gravitate here is that Pueblo is a cross section of people who believe in the same thing. A strong country and great people pulling together understanding what needs to be done.”

Drew Dix spoke of the problems he faced when returning from the service.

“I really appreciate what was done for me, helping when I got home,” he said.

Mt. Carmel is committed to serving military, veterans and their families in Southern Colorado and are now providing services in Pueblo. Their services are offered in-person and virtually to meet the needs of the Pueblo Veteran and Military community.

“The organization is an effort to do great things and I’m really proud of that,” Dix said.

“Every dollar raised here stays in Pueblo, goes to Pueblo veterans and their families.” Said Brian McCain, COO of Action22. “We’re Pueblo proud.”

Dix indicated his appreciation for organizations such as this. “Thank God we have people in communities who welcome these young men back,” Dix said. “They’ve contributed a lot.”

ART & HISTORY

“You Should Have Seen It: Pueblo’s Mineral Palace”

10 a.m.-4 p.m daily through April 1, El Pueblo History Museum, 301 N. Union Ave. Info: historycolorado.org

War Memorial Ghost Tours

7- 9 p.m. first Saturday of each month, Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, 31001 Magnuson Ave.

Info: pwam.org

Arts & Chats with Kimberly Sewell

4 p.m. Sundays, at the ArtHub at Pueblo Arts Alliance, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Info: kimberly@puebloarts.org

Art History for Kiddos

1 p.m. every other Sunday, Pueblo Arts Alliance, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Info: 602-281-5558

What’s the Buzz? The life of the Honeybee

Through May 13, Buell Children’s Museum at Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Faith

Interfaith meditation and service

10-11:30 a.m. Sundays, Center for Inner Peace, 740 W. 15th St. Info: 719-543-2274

Family Events

Pueblo Rocks in the Park

Noon-2 p.m. Fridays, Ray Aguilera Park, 840 W. Northern Ave.

Games

Chaos Games & More 4065 Club Manor Drive

Info: chaosgamesandmore.com

Pokemon, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40k, board game nights and more. Weekly game schedule available on website.

Game Knight Games

1839 S. Pueblo Blvd.

Info: gameknightgamesllc.com

Pokemon, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Keyforge, My Hero Academia, board game league and more. Weekly game schedule available on website.

Music

Line Dancing

EZ 4 p.m., Country/Classic 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Eagleridge Event Center, 805 Eagleridge Blvd., Suite 170 Info: facebook.com/PuebloDanceCompany Cocktail Hour with Live Music

7-9 p.m., Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St. Info: facebook.com/AnalogueSolar

Check out PSJ’s First Friday Art Walk Guide on page 13 for a quicker look at the events happening in Pueblo’s art scene.

Pop events in art guide will also appear here.

Open Mic at Blue Cactus

6-9 p.m. Thursdays, El Nopal’s Blue Cactus Room, 1435 E. Evans Ave. Info: 719-564-9784

Karaoke Night at The Fallout with KJ Mikey D.

9-11 p.m. Fridays, 1227 S. Prairie Ave. Info: facebook.com/PuebloFallout

Wellness

Seniors: Riverwalk Walking Group

Meets 10 a.m. Mondays in front of Senior Resource Development Agency (SRDA), 230 N. Union Ave.

Info: 719-553-3446 or richmond@sdra.org

Wellbrierty Support Meeting

9-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Center for Inner Peace, 740 W. 15th St.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer

5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through March 15, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Southeast Colorado, 1622 Jackson St. Info: 719-315-4975

Prenatal Workshop and Support Group

6-7 p.m. las Wednesday of each month, Phoenix

Massage, 105W. Fifth St. Info: socodoulaco@gmail.com

Yoga: Hun Yuan Qi Gong

10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Anahata

Healing Yoga Studio, 3942 Ivywood Lane, $5/ class; Wednesdays and Thursdays on Zoom (no charge); Sundays at City Park Ballroom, George L. Williams Pavillion, 801 Goodnight Ave.

Ladies Night Out Self-Defense Training

6-8 p.m. first Friday of the month, Rocky Mountain Empowerment Center, 330 Lake Ave. Info: $39, 800-748-2074

FEBRUARY 2023

Feb 3 - Friday

First Friday Art Walk

4-6 p.m. Sangre de Cristos Arts and Conference Center, 210 N. Union Ave.

4-7 p.m. El Pueblo History Museum, 302 N. Union Ave.

5-7 p.m. Liminal Space Gallery, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Feb 6 - Monday

Startup Pueblo Book Club: “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead & Win” by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Noon-1 p.m.. Magpies, 229 S. Union Ave. Info: facebook.com/StartUpPueblo

Feb 7 - Tuesday

Startup Pueblo February Meetup

5:30 p.m., Brue’s Alehouse, 20 Riverwalk Place. Info: facebook.com/StartUpPueblo

Wand Making Class

6 p.m., Karmic Konnection, 125 E. Abriendo Ave. Info: $55, 719-542-9887

Feb 9 - Thursday

Books Again Book Club: “The Path Between the Seas”

9 a.m., Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave. Info: booksagain-pueblo,com/events.html or 719553-0340

Feb 11 - Saturday

Fasching

8 p.m., Union Depot, 132 W. B St. Info: faschingpueblo.com or 719-565-7727

Feb 18 - Saturday

Author Meet and Greet: Beth Bricker Davis

1-3 p.m., Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave. Info: booksagain-pueblo,com/events.html or 719-5530340

Feb 19 - Sunday

Tuscany at St. Joseph’s

3-7 p.m., St. Joseph’s Parish, 1124 Aspen Road Info: All local artists invited to this wine tasting & art festival. 719-240-6006

Feb 21 - Tuesday

March 17 - Friday

Benise - Fiesta!

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Place Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

APRIL 2023

Fat Tuesday

5 p.m., Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, 302 N. Santa Fe Ave. Info: pueblochamber.org

March 2023

March 8 - Wednesday

“Legally Blonde: The Musical”

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place Info: $42-$90, pueblomemorialhall.com

March 9 - Thursday

Books Again Book Club: “The Dictionary of Lost Words”

9 a.m., Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave. Info: booksagain-pueblo,com/events.html or 719-553-0340

April 13 - Thursday

Books Again Book Club: “Neither Wolf Nor Dog”

9 a.m., Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave. Info: booksagain-pueblo,com/events.html or 719-553-0340

April 23 - Sunday

Broadway Theatre League: “Anatasia”

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place Info: $62-$90, pueblomemorialhall.com

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