The Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado has several key events planned during their annual Memorial Weekend celebration from Wednesday May 22 through Monday, May 27 at their plaza in Spring Canyon Park, 2626 West Horsetooth Road in Fort Collins. This includes the popular Global War on Terror (GWOT) Wall of Remembrance, which is a traveling wall that has visited many places in the U.S. since 2011. The wall will arrive on May 22 and departs on May 28.
Global War on Terror Wall
Master of Ceremonies Todd Harding will announce many local dignitaries including Plaza Founder and retired US Army veteran Diggs Brown and Plaza President Gary Ricker (Vietnam veteran). The plaza’s proposed new entrance sign will be displayed on a large banner at the plaza compliments of e3Signs.
Retired Marine Maj Gen Wm Mullins III
Keynote speaker and Major General William Mullins III is a retired officer in the United States Marine Corps. He last served as the commanding general for Training and Education Command. He was deployed in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has co-written a book with Daniel Green called “Fallujah Redux: The Anbar Awakening and the Struggle with Al-Qaeda.” General Mullins will address the Memorial weekend audience at Sunday’s main event at noon.
Other highlights during the Sunday May 26 celebration will include a three-plane flyover by local veterans, bagpiper and retired Army MSG Marti Mace, raising of the colors, prayer, our National Anthem, Missing Man ceremony, Marine Corps League’s Color Guard and 21 Gun Salute, and their soil ceremony at the “Victory Garden” with soils from American victories throughout the world.
Gary Ricker, President of Veterans Plaza explained, “The memorial weekend ceremony at Veterans Plaza honors the service and accomplishments of our veterans, 9/11 victims, and first responders, both living and deceased, and honors their sacrifices given for our country, its citizens, and each other. The Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary Club is sponsoring the “Field of Honor® American Flag Display” which consists of 500 American flags in formation at the Plaza. Hanging on the flags are medallions bearing the names of our community members’ heroes.”
The GWOT Wall of Remembrance is the only traveling memorial wall paying tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice including the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan in 2021, and the victims and first responders who were tragically killed in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The GWOT wall lists the victims who have perished during these tragic events. Wall operator Brian Romans, a Marine veteran, started the Romans Warrior Foundation and is bringing the Wall to Colorado for a second time.
Over 20 veteran related vendors are expected to participate in the celebration. Several vendors include Veterans Honoring Veterans, Rosie the Riveter, Daughters of American Revolution, Military Women’s Memorial, Sons of American Revolution, Larimer County Veterans Office, Veterans Administration, Stillwater Ranch, and many other vendors. Food vendors will be available with brats, hot dogs, Mexican food, and kettle corn.
Northern Colorado residents and veterans are encouraged to visit the GWOT Wall during the park’s visiting hours and attend the annual Sunday ceremony. Please visit their website: www.veteransplazanoco.org for more info and their other annual events.