Memorial Day: Recognition carries on
Friday - June 5, 2020 by Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Members of the Southern Ute Veterans Association: Howard Richards Sr., Rod Grove, Rudley Weaver, Bruce LeClaire, Raymond Baker and Gordon Hammond assemble in front of the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial in Veterans Park after the Memorial Day ceremonies. The ceremonies were scaled back due to Coronavirus Protocol.
Southern Veterans Association members lower the colors in the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park.
Southern Ute Veterans Association members: Raymond Baker (Ret. Navy), Rudley Weaver (Navy), Bruce Valdez (Army) and Gordon Hammond (Marines) stand at attention on the Bear Dance Bridge. Raymond Baker said a prayer and tossed the wreath into the river in memory of those lost at sea.
Appropriately following COVID-19 protocol, elbow bumps were made between Raymond Baker and Bruce LeClaire in the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.
Bruce LeClaire sang a flag and a memorial song at the beginning of the Memorial Day ceremonies.
Reflecting images of the Southern ute Veterans Association are seen in the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial in Southern Ute Veterans Memorial park.
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: courtesy Mary LeClaire
Photo Credit: courtesy Shawna Steffler
Photo Credit: courtesy Mary LeClaire
Photo Credit: courtesy Mary LeClaire
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Veterans were remembered during the Memorial Day ceremonies Monday, May 25 in the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial Park. The annual ceremonies were scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Southern Ute Veterans honored the day with a three-part ceremony. Beginning with a small ceremony in Veterans Memorial Park with the lowering of the flags, a flag song and a memorial song were sung, and placing of wreaths at the various memorials in the park. Followed by a short ceremony on the Pine River where Raymond Baker said a prayer before tossing a wreath into the water from Bear Dance Bridge; closing with a small closing ceremony in the Ouray Memorial Cemetery.