Remember and Honor Magazine - May 2019

In This Issue:

Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado

Prays for the Fallen

Choosing ?Life?

Never Too Late

Memorial Day Celebrations

Cover photo by Lee Cooper Veterans Plaza at night Photo taken during ceremony honoring our Post 9-1 1 Veterans in 201 4 To see a short video of that weekend, go to YouTube and plug in ?Remember the Fallen/Field of Flags?

Dear Readers,

May brings two important dates for veterans: Armed Forces Day, for those presently serving and Memorial Day, honoring our fallen, and likely the most sacred day among those who have served

There will be a number of events in honor of Memorial Day, and I have listed as many as I could find in the calendar page. One of those events is at the Veterans Plaza, Fort Collins. Veterans Plaza honors those who have fallen, and all who have served and are serving now. Each year Veterans Plaza honors a different group of veterans with a special weekend of events, including a gala and ceremony This year May 25-27, the Plaza will honor our Gulf War veterans, a group that I believe shares the moniker with our Korean War veterans as the forgotten veterans. Let?s turn out and really show our Gulf War veterans this isn? t true! I hope you can attend the gala and/or ceremony

On Armed Forces Day, May 1 8th, Jackson and Maisie McPherson will hold their 4th annual Lemonade stand event to raise money for High Plains Honor Flight. When you think of lemonade stands, you might think of raising what? maybe $1 4? To date, they have raised over $1 4K! Two very special kids right there

Others featured in this month?s issue:

Norm Oliphant is 95 years old and a World War II veteran Only in the last bunch of years has he returned to his love of painting His natural talent is truly amazing, as is the back story to his painting There is an effort currently in the works to put together a show of Norm?s work Stay tuned for details and plan on attending!!!

The story of Joe Hoberman and his praying for the fallen since he returned from the war is a fitting piece for this month as we honor those who have given the greatest sacrifice. Joe was a deep and thoughtful person.

When I first started my project of preserving veteran?s stories, I was focused on getting their stories down on permanent record, never to be lost or forgotten. It started out as a way to satisfy a love of history, but a phone call I got the next morning after an interview completely changed everything for me. The wife of a WWII veteran called to thank me for doing the interview, saying neither she nor the kids knew his story and would cherish the DVD when it arrived. She then added that last night was the first time in 60+ years he slept through the night. I hung up the phone and bawled my eyes out.

From that point forward, compounded by the hundreds of stories I have heard since then, things changed from not just honoring veterans, but trying to help them any way I could I have come to find that many veterans carry proverbial backpacks of various sizes loaded with rocks, a backpack that most of us civilians don? t carry nor can begin to understand While ideally I wish we could figure out how to take those backpacks off, until then we need to help take out as many rocks as possible to lighten the load as best we can Local Health & Wellness Coach Mary Scott?s work with Veterans, especially around what she calls the "heartbreaks and soul-aches of war", is dedicated to doing just that So I've asked her to be a contributing columnist, sharing her thoughts in a monthly column.

As always, you r feedback is always welcom ed on all m aterials with in each issu e. Enjoy.

Sincerely,

Brad Hoopes

Brad Hoopes, Pu blish er Rem em ber An d Hon or

Our Sponsors make it possible to provide this monthly publication to the community When you have a need for our sponsors' products or services, we ask that you give them a chance to earn your business Please tell them you found them in the Remember And Honor magazine!

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Thurs. May 2nd, 9th,16th Veterans Plaza Com m ittee Meetings

(1 730h rs) Cou n cil Tree Con ven an t Ch u rch 4825 S Lem ay Ft Collin s

Plan n in g m eetin gs for u pcom in g gala an d cerem on y to h on or Gu lf War vets Lookin g for in terested volu n teers.

Sat. May 4th, 11th,18th,25th Proud Am erican Military Veterans (PAMVET) Breakfast

(0730 h rs) Golden Corral Restau ran t 1 360 Scu lptor Dr. Lovelan d

Join veteran s from all service bran ch es in a casu al settin g for a bu ffet breakfast an d cam araderie

Sat. May 4th and 18th Veterans Honoring Veterans bi-m onthly Statue Cerem ony

(0800h rs) Golden Corral Restau ran t Bi-m on th ly cerem on y wh ere veteran s are h on ored with a 1 5? statu e for th eir service. Held du rin g th e PAM VET breakfast.

Sat. May 11th Honor Flight Northern Colorado All Flights Reunion Breakfast

(0800h rs) Islan d Grove Even ts Cen ter Islan d Grove Region al Park, Greeley

All 22 fligh ts reu n ion breakfast. Brin g on e gu est. Addition al gu ests askin g for a $1 0 don ation

Sat May 18th 6th Annual Clay Tournam ent Fundraiser for Vets4Life

(0830) Great Gu n s Sports Com plex, Nu n n For in fo con tact: Vets4Life com

Sat May 18th Jackson and Maisie?s 4th Annual Lem onade Stand

(1 1 00-1 400h rs) Fu n draiser to ben efit High Plain s Hon or Fligh t M ead Town Park Call 720-648-0352 for m ore in form ation

Saturday May 18th Vietnam Veterans of Am erica Chapter Meeting

(1 000h rs) Fire Station 1 4 21 09 West Ch ase Rd Fort Collin s

Form in g a n orth ern Colorado ch apter M ore in form ation : Gary Cam p 970-203-4665

Sat ?Mon May 25-27th Veterans Plaza Weekend of Events

-Satu rday n igh t (1 730h r) All Veteran s Gala M arriott Hotel Fort Collin s

-Su n day (1 1 00-1 400h rs) Cerem on y to h on or Gu lf War veteran s at th e Plaza

-M on day Colorado 1 0K Ru n , Walk&Ru ck M arch , Kids?1 M ile Ru n at th e Plaza

Registration for ru n : ColoradoRu n .com For m ore in form ation on all of th e above, Call M ary Zen zen at 970-31 0-8751 or visit Veteran sPlazaNOCO.org

Submit event information to Brad Hoopes at: brad hoopes@rememberandhonor com

?Dedicated to all U.S. veterans who have served, are serving, and will serve this great nation?. This is the motto of the Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado

The idea behind the Plaza came to retired Army Major Diggs Brown in 2007 He had just attended the funeral of Marine Sgt. Nicholas Walsh, who was killed in Fallujah, and he realized there was no place in northern Colorado to honor both our veterans who had passed and those still living He secured land from the city of Ft. Collins inside Spring Canyon Park, put together a committee, and began planning and raising money for the plaza.

The plaza was dedicated in 201 1 and sits on three acres at the entrance to the park Features include a grass amphitheater, flagstone stage, and a statue of a soldier holding a child on his shoulder with his other arm extended, entitled ?On Strong Shoulders?. The significance of the extended arm is to show the child all that has been provided to him by the sacrifices of those who have served In front of the stage is the

?Victory Garden?, where soil samples from 1 20+ battlefields, cemeteries, and military installations worldwide are interned The soil ceremony each year in which more samples are added is always emotional Lastly, the plaza features two computer monitors. One is for educational purposes and the other lists and scrolls the names of veterans. Anyone who has served honorably can be listed on the monitor.

The plaza is a serene place to come and reflect, but it is also open to the public to hold events Each year over Memorial Day weekend, the plaza holds events surrounding a ceremony to honor a different group of veterans. In the past, they have honored WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Post 91 1 , and Cold Warrior veterans. This month they will be honoring our Gulf War veterans.

The Plaza is located at Spring Canyon Park in Fort Collins Simply get on Horsetooth Rd and drive west until it ends. For more information about the plaza, please visit their website at VeteransPlazaNOCO.org or on Facebook at:

Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado

P r a y s f o r t h e F a l l e n

?You don? t have to kill a man to kill him.? That is the profound statement made by Joe Hoberman when describing what he saw on his very first day on the front line. Joe says being in the war dramatically changed his life and that he constantly thinks about those who didn? t make it back

Joe turned eighteen early in his senior year of high school and took extra classes so he could graduate in January instead of the spring. Based on his high-test scores, he then enlisted in the Army?s Specialized Training Program He learned how to code and decode messages, but, anticipating a shortage of infantryman, the Army ended the program and transferred everyone to the infantry. Sent to the European Theater, Joe landed in Normandy as a replacement. While hiking up and over the hills at Omaha Beach, he noted how steep a climb it was and wondered what it must have been like for those who had to fight their way up it. Once at the replacement depot or as the soldiers called it, the ?repo depot" , he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division

Joe experienced the horrors of war on his very first day on the front line. During a German artillery barrage, the headquarters was wiped out The rest of the unit sought refuge in a ravine during the barrage, and once it was over, Joe and another soldier were ordered to recover whatever important documents they could from the remains of the fallen. They came across a gruesome sight All the officers have been killed They found one survivor, a thirty-six-year-old they affectionately called ?Pop ? ?He was completely out of it mentally. We guided him out of there as you would a total invalid,? Joe says. ?I have always wondered whatever became of him ? It was this experience that prompted Joe to say, ?You don? t have to kill a man to kill him ?

Horrible experiences continued to stack up for Joe in short order His best friend, Ernie, was

killed on their second day out. This left Joe scared to death, but he now realizes that being scared makes for a great defense. With his extremely keen senses, he was soon made a scout Out on a recon mission with another scout, they got caught in a tree burst? a maneuver where the Germans lowered their guns into the trees, shattering them and showering the men in the forest with splintered pieces The other scout?s leg was severed by falling pieces

Joe was soon temporarily knocked out of the war himself. On the southern edge of the Battle of the Bulge and not properly outfitted for what was one of the coldest winters in Europe in fifty years, Joe?s feet froze, and gangrene set in He spent a month in the hospital recovering and then rejoined his unit. The war was now on German soil, and Joe remembers an experience that stopped him in his tracks While raiding a house, he looked up at the writing on a grandfather clock. Fluent in German, he read, ?One of these hours will be your last.? Fortunately it was a prediction that didn? t hold

true at the time, and he survived the war.

With Germany?s surrender, Joe was pressed into duty because of his earlier training in decoding messages. He went with American officers to meet a German field marshal to accept his surrender; Joe?s skills would come in handy in case they needed to send off classified messages. When they returned, Joe was hauled into his commanding officer?s office and told he was now subject to a court martial. Stumped, Joe asked what he had done. The officer said that Joe had not saluted the German field marshal ?I absolutely would not!?Joe declared to the officer. The officer walked up to him, smiled, and said he was excused. Joe stayed in Germany for a year after the war ended as part of the occupation forces until he finally had enough points to come home

While he is very proud of his service and of being part of the 3rd Infantry Division, Joe doesn? t like to talk about the war and sees no good in doing so. Aside from the nightmares,

which have only stopped in recent years, he tries not to think about it, either He can? t stop thinking about those who never made it back, though ?I pray several times a week for my friends who never made it back,? he says with sorrow that, seventy years later, is still strong in his voice.

By: Mary Scott, MSW, Health & Wellness Coach, Heart Scars 6, Loveland, CO

As Memorial Day approaches and Service Members and Veterans remember our many fallen, their thoughts seem to go far deeper than honorary speeches, wreaths and flags; and with good reason

I?ve often heard Veterans say that even the onset of spring can bring great sadness, with some even warning, ?You won? t see much of me in May?, or a concerned spouse sharing, ?He gets so down this time of year.?

So how do we better understand the meaning that Memorial Day can hold for so many? For those who agreed (or were forced) to lay down their lives if necessary? For those who have witnessed the horrors of war and endured the losses that break the heart and eat at the soul?

Love, hate, good, and evil: it?s rare that these four opposing conditions are found operating at the same time, in the same place; but war is surely one of them Anyone who has served in that intensely complex environment understands the pain and confusion that such conflicting forces can bring to all in their path.

The month of May can take many Veterans back there? back to the battle, to the grief and sometimes the self-punishing guilt, and to the physical place where many feel they left lost brothers and sisters behind

We who love our Veterans must be patient; there?s no time-limit or ?right? way to grieve. Yet if sadness is common for you or a loved one, reaching out to another Veteran in need can boost your spirits as well as the other?s. There, you will find common ground? and maybe a way out of your own darkness.

Major Joshua Mantz, US Army, Iraq, author of a compelling new book, "The Beauty of a Darker

Soul: Overcoming Trauma Through the Power of Human Connection", offers this hopeful thought:

?The most powerful way to honor their sacrifice is by allowing their spirit to live through us each and every day.?

Yes: choosing ?life? in the name of those who no longer can is certainly one, uplifting way to honor those we?ve loved and lost.

With great respect for all who?ve served, Mary

Honor Flight All Flights Reunion Breakfast

There will be a reunion breakfast for all the past flights of Honor Flight Northern Colorado. It will be held on Saturday, May 1 1 th. Doors open at 0745hrs The breakfast will be at the Island Grove Event Center at Island Grove Regional Park, located at 501 N 1 4th Ave , Greeley, CO 80631 Veterans can bring a guest for free, and asking for a $1 0 donation for additional guests. Guardians and veterans, please spread the word.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter Being Organized

An effort is in progress to start a local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter here in northern Colorado. The group meets the 3rd Saturday of every month at 1 000hrs (May 1 8th is the next meeting). The group meets at Fire Station 1 4 21 09 West Chase Rd in southeast Fort Collins Stop by the meeting to learn more or contact: Gary Camp 970-203-4665, email: GCamp4843@hotmail com

N. Colorado D-Day Memorial Ride and Rally

Calling all riders for a rally to be held on June 8th. According to organizer and Army veteran JT Tolman, registration and staging will occur starting at 0800 hrs at the lower parking lot of Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson, located at I-25 and Crossroads Blvd. Color Guard provided by Army and Navy Recruiting, along with a National Anthem singer. Kick stands up at 1 000hr. Entry fee for a rider is $20 and $25 for a rider and passenger All proceeds go to Semper K9 Assistance Dogs. Please contact JT for further info at DDayMemorialNOCO@gmail.com

New Military Officers of America Chapter

A new chapter of the Military Officers of America is forming locally with the merging of the Wyoming and Colorado Chapters. There will be a wine and cheese mixer held on Saturday, June 29th for those interested in learning more. Please contact either President Shelley Kalkowski at Shelley.Kalkowski@CCOC-MOAA.org or Secretary Bob Wilson at Wilson4rj@gmail com

Memorial Day Ceremonies

Loveland Burial Park 962-2430 for information

Resthaven Memorial 667-0202 for information

Windsor Lakeview Cemetery 1 000hrs

Linn Grove Cemetery 900hrs

Sunset Cemetery l 330-5590 for information

Grandview Cemetery 930hrs

Edora Park Veterans Memorial 1 430 E. Stuart St. Fort Collins. 0845hrs

After having breakfast at PAMVETs and receiving a statue from Veterans Honoring Veterans, Lucas Hecker, was driven over to his son?s house by Tony Dumosch in American Legion Post 1 5's 1 967 Vietnam-era Army ambulance (sitting in the front seat!). He then sat down, surrounded by 1 2 or so family members and was interviewed about his experiences in the Merchant Marines during World War II I live by the mantra that these veterans are on the last few miles of a very long road, and we n eed to do everyth in g we can to pave th ose rem ain in g m iles in gold. I th in k pavin g operation s today wen t very well for Lu cas.

April 6th (L-R) Joseph Zito, Lucas Hecker, Don Podler, & Mike McCormick

March 16th (L-R) Eugene Turnbull, Bob Desmond, Don Cope, Dennis Schaffan & Don Bonenberger

Who knew a little lemonade stand could make such a profound impact on the lives of so many veterans In 201 6, Jackson and Maisie McPherson held a lemonade stand to help raise money for Honor Flight. Since then the annual lemonade stands has raised $1 4,000 for the cause This paid for 1 4 veterans to go to WA D C to see the memorials built to honor them, leaving them with a lasting and profoundly positive impact on their lives.

Jackson is now 1 2 and Maisie is 1 0 When they first started their stand, they were too young to fully understand what their lemonade stand really did for veterans. Over the years and they have come to understand and realize their impact They have had many veterans contact them and thank them for what they do.

When they are asked why they do it? They will tell you: ?All the motorcycles are cool?, also ?the classic cars and all the jeeps that come are awesome, and of course it is great to help our veterans.?

The lemonade stand is now an official 501 (c)3 Non-Profit. The mission is simple: To raise money and awareness to veterans causes. And to give children an opportunity to volunteer and make a difference first hand in a veteran?s life by providing lemonade stands to raise funds for veterans causes

Jackson and Maisie are involved in many veterans? events, laying pennies on soldiers?

tombstones at Fort Logan cemetery on Memorial Day, laying wreaths on soldier?s graves for Wreaths Across America, and a favorite event, helping to serve water and donuts to WWII Veterans in Loveland at a WWII Airplane show.

When: May 1 8, 201 9

Where: Mead Town Park, 441 3rd Street, Mea Time: 1 1 AM to 2PM

Event Includes:

Ole?Veteran?s ?Two Cents Worth? Meet and Greet Booth

Motorcycle Show: Sign up on our website

Lemonade: Come thirsty for free lemonade and cookies served by Jackson, Maisie, and friends!

All donations go to High Plains Honor Flight to help fund their first flight on September 1 5, 201 9! If you are unable to attend the event and still would like to donate their website has an online donation button For more information go to www.JacksonAndMaisiesLemonadeStand.com

As a young kid, Norm Oliphant, 95, of Windsor, loved to draw His dad suggested he send in some of his drawings to a famous comic strip artist that Norm enjoyed The artist actually wrote back, telling Norm his work was quite good. His dad put the brakes on Norm pursuing his art though when he told him, ?You will starve; no one has money to buy art? His dad wasn? t trying to be discouraging, but just practical as it was during the Great Depression

Norm did put art aside and moved on with life With the outbreak of WWII, he enlisted and became a Navy Seabee. He saw horrific action in the S. Pacific and was wounded twice After his service, he returned home, married, raised a family, and had a very successful sales career at Coca-Cola In the mid 1 980?s he retired and once again thought about art He entered a contest sponsored by the artist who painted the murals on Phoenix?s Sky Harbor Airport and won! Part of the prize was art supplies. This reemerging interest was squelched again though: he had lost a lung from shrapnel and the fumes from the oil paints affected him Coupled with that, he lost his beloved first wife.

Fast forward another 30 years and he is helping a neighbor with her yard work. She invites him in to her studio and introduces him to acrylics and watercolor; an incredible talent that laid latent for almost 80 years finally surfaced and came alive What is even more amazing about his beautiful work is that he has no formal training

Plans are now in the works to put together a showing of his works for the public to see; dates to follow soon.

AUTOMOTIVE

Ch ristian Bros Au tom otive

6601 29th St , Greeley, CO

(970) 795-2277

CBAC com /Greeley

COLLECTIBLEART

Design s by Ricker 6730 N Fran klin Ave Lovelan d, CO (970) 593-6950

Norm Oliph an t

(94 year old WWII veteran )

Facebook com /Norm an Oliph an t 3

EXCAVATING

Barry Barn ett

(970) 443-1 91 2

FLOORING

North ern Colorado Carpets

5837 S. College Ave. Fort Collin s, CO (970) 226-6800

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FOOD & DRINK

Sn ack Attack

Specialty San dwich es & Brews

1 20 W Stu art, Fort Collin s, CO (970) 825-5989

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Veteran Broth ers Brewin g Co.

21 N. Parish Ave, Joh n stown , CO (970) 587-6786

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HAIR SALON / BARBER

Vern Dietz, barber

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231 7 W 1 7th St, Greeley, CO (970) 353-8588

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Dave Cook

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HVAC

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Casey Alexan der

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Fron t Ran ge Derm atology

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Colorpro Prin tin g

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RADIO

M att Argu ella (Th e Big Kah u n a)

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REALTOR

Jam es Hagerm an

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ROOFING

Read?s Roofin g an d Repair In c

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SENIOR RESOURCES

Sen ior Livin g Advisors of Colorado

Dan ita Nixon (970) 541 -4592

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TRANSLATION SERVICES

Yvon n e Paez

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TRAVEL

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