Dave Gibson, Gilpin County.  At the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918, World War I formally ended when the Armistice with Germany took effect. In honor of the fallen heroes, November 11 became a national holiday in 1919. Originally called Armistice Day, in 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day to recognize all Armed Forces veterans who so selflessly and courageously served the United States of America.

On Thursday, November 11, at the Gilpin County Community Center, in a small token of our gratitude, a BBQ was held for local veterans. The Gilpin Archwood 4-H Club went above and beyond the call of duty preparing the Veterans Memorial next to the Community Center for their arrival by cleaning and adorning the markers with American flags and flowers. The site was in shipshape and would have passed an admiral’s inspection with flying colors if by chance one happened by. The 4-H Club has big plans for the memorial next year with repairs and the planting of native wildflowers.

MK Ranch of Sedalia donated the beef to the 4-H Club that in turn supplied the meat along with refreshments, chips, and cookies for the luncheon. The premium quality grass fed and grass finished burgers were far tastier than those found at grocery stores and in no way comparable to C-rations the service people may have eaten in the past. A veteran thanked Events Coordinator Krystal Meyer who was handing out the food for her service and she for his.

Jesse Peterson, whose stint ran from 1968 through 1971, was present with his khaki-colored chihuahua. Jim Voorhies spent 1978 through 1981 with the Marines and 1981 through 1987 as a nuclear reactor operator with the U.S. Navy. His ship, the USS Enterprise, inspired Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Voorhies was in attendance when the aircraft carrier was decommissioned in 2010.

Twenty-five year Central City American Legion Commander Teo Dominguez spent 1963 through 1966 in France and Germany building infrastructure on bases as an Army engineer. Perry Pearce was an Air Force machinist stationed at Mountain Home, Idaho, in 1965 and 1966. It could be said Pearce dodged a bullet when he injured his leg two weeks before the end of boot camp. Because of the injury, he was unable to deploy with the men he trained with. Those soldiers, along with men from other branches of the military, ended up fighting in Da Nang, Vietnam, where 142 of them lost their lives and 539 were wounded. He wishes he’d been at their sides during battle.

Lewis Wagner was only 19 years old when he joined the military in 1961. Wagner spent 1964 through 1968 in Vietnam. When asked what it was like living through the Tet Offensive, without elaborating, described it as “scary.” He wrapped up his career in 1974 as the Air Force KC-135 Crew Chief in Puerto Rico.

Soldiers who experience combat or the horrors of war are forever affected and rarely talk about it. Their sacrifice is personal and best not relived. Even if they explained what happened in explicit detail, we civilians could never fully understand because we were not there. It was only through Jacob Upchurch’s wife that I learned he served in Iraq and Afghanistan while with the Army. His daughter Lily brought cheer and was the youngest patriot at the gathering. It is for the future of America and girls like Lily that our proud warriors serve.

Thank you veterans.