Colorado Remembers Her Fallen

BY BISHOP JOSEPH COFFEY

WHILE BISHOP COFFEY LOOKS ON, ARCHBISHOP AQUILA BLESSES THE NEW GOLD STAR MEMORIAL AT THE COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL IN AURORA, CO ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2021.

September 18, 2021 was a gorgeous, sunny, blue sky day in Aurora, Colorado, near the city of Denver. Across the street from Buckley AFB, a base of the new U.S. Space Force Command, I was invited to participate with the Most Reverend Samuel Aquila, the Archbishop of Denver, in a blessing of a new monument at the Colorado Freedom Memorial, a magnificent glass wall reminiscent of the black granite Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. This memorial in Aurora holds more than 6,000 names of Coloradans who died in all of our Nation’s Wars.

The event's Coordinator, Deacon Joe Donohoe, Director of the Permanent Diaconate Office for the Archdiocese of Denver, invited me to be one of the speakers at the event. The president and founder of the memorial is Mr. Rick Crandall, a longtime radio host in the Denver area. He explained some of the history of the memorial. “Having traveled to the American Cemetery in Normandy, France, my wife Diana and I wanted to do something for all the Colorado service members who were laid to rest there.” In addition to those at Normandy, they were able to determine the number of those who had fallen since the Spanish American War, and this memorial is a tribute to them.

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Also offering his reflection was Deacon Mike Gallagher, an American Vietnam Veteran who has suffered for the last 50 years from the effects of Agent Orange poisoning used in battle there. Deacon Mike’s story of coming back to the U.S. and ultimately being ordained a permanent deacon was genuinely inspiring.

Archbishop Aquila was the main celebrant at the outdoor Mass, which followed the Memorial Service, and asked me to preach the homily to the Veterans and their families. Included in the day was the moving presentation of the Colors and music from the Catholic Cadet Choir from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

After the Mass, Archbishop Aquila and I blessed the new Gold Star Memorial honoring family members of service members who have died in battle. Archbishop Aquila offered his thanks to the Veterans with these closing thoughts: “I have had seven uncles fight in World War II. One survived the Bataan Death March and three and a half years in a POW camp. When I was the Bishop of Fargo, a soldier came to me and said he did not know if Jesus could forgive him for his part in the war, and it was still a great struggle for him. I assured him and all Veterans that Jesus forgives you and invites you to turn to and listen to Him.”

Special thanks are due to Deacon Joe Donohoe and the 15 deacons and several concelebrating priests who joined us for the event. The day ended with a delicious lunch served by the ever-faithful Knights of Columbus. It was a great day to thank all the Veterans, especially those from Colorado attending this ceremony and Mass, and all who have served faithfully. I am honored to be the Vicar for Veterans Affairs for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. V

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE: • ARCHBISHOP AQUILA AND BISHOP COFFEY CONCELEBRATE AN OUTDOOR MASS AT THE COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL. • BISHOP COFFEY ADDRESSING THE VETERANS AND GUESTS AT THE BLESSING OF THE COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL. • ARCHBISHOP AQUILA AND BISHOP COFFEY SHARE LUNCH AND A LAUGH WITH CADETS FROM THE CATHOLIC CHOIR OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY AFTER THE BLESSING OF THE COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL.