Ceremonies honor veterans

The focus was remembering the sacrifices of those who died in service of their country at the May 25 Memorial Day ceremonies at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

“I try to come here every year from Colorado Springs,” Vietnam veteran Oliver Padeway said before the ceremonies began. “I come to join with other veterans to pay tribute to those who served but didn’t come home. I also come in order to visit my younger brother’s grave here at Fort Logan.”

The warm, sunny weather brought out a big crowd. One Fort Logan employee estimated there were more than 1,500 people attending the ceremony.

The ceremonies followed the traditional format. There was patriotic music provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Band and speeches by Gov. John Hickenlooper and others.

There was the wreath placed at the symbolic head stone, the 21-gun salute and the 11 horn players from Bugles Across America playing “Taps.”

Steven Asheim was one of the musicians playing “Taps.”

“This is my ninth year to be here at Fort Logan to take part in the Memorial Day ceremonies,” the Littleton resident said. “For me, it is a way to express my respect and gratitude for those who lost their lives serving our nation. I didn’t go into the military but my dad and many members of my family did. So I use my musical talent to honor them and all veterans.”

He said he is one of about 7,000 members of Bugles Across America. They all play horns but not all of them play bugles.

“In addition to Memorial Day and Veterans Day, I probably come to Fort Logan eight or nine times a year to play `Taps’ for a military funeral,” he said. “If a musician can’t make it, they play a recording of `Taps.’ I volunteer as often as I can because I feel a musician should always play `Taps’ at a military funeral.”

As “Taps” was played, Carol Wiggins wiped tears from her eyes.

” `Taps’ always gives me goose bumps,” the Douglas County resident said. “I served three years in the Army while we were in Afghanistan. Quite a few guys I knew went down and I feel I have attended too many military funerals so Taps really hits home with me.”