WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 40
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Fort Logan honor guard seeks members INSIDE THIS ISSUE All Veterans Honor Guard in dire need of volunteers for military funerals BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The American flag being folded and presented to family members, the perfectly aligned rifles and the sound of taps. All powerful moments that make up the ceremony to pay final respects to those who served in the U.S. military. The nonprofit, All Veterans Honor Guard, is made up of five teams that provide final honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Since forming in 1994, they have provided final honors for over 20,000 veterans. When the organization first started, it was made of six teams. In their first year of providing this service, they attended around 63 funerals. Kathy Kraski, an Air Force veteran and All Veterans Honor Guard volunteer, got involved with the organization nearly 20 years ago. “Just about every year since then, the number [of funerals] has increased,” said Kraski. “But the number of volunteers hasn’t.” In 2015, the number of teams dropped to five — Castle Rock, Littleton, Aurora, Arvada and Fort Logan — and in 2021, the teams attended over 1,500 funerals. Kraski said the honor guard now has less than 80 volunteers. She has been going to multiple veteran events attempting to recruit volunteers, but Kraski said it’s not as easy as it seems. By law, one must be a military veteran to participate in final honors. SEE GUARD, P13
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ABLE SHEPHERD Sheriff’s office noncommittal
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PARKING DISPUTE A team of veterans from the All Veterans Honor Guard conduct the rifle detail during a COURTESY OF KATHY KRASKI funeral service.
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 23
Restaurant owner struggles P8
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