ALAMOSA — Wind rustled the new leaves on old trees, flags flew to full glory and members of Dickey-Springer American Legion Post 113 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 899 Monday morning solemnly remembered those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for United States freedom.

Volunteers placed flags on the graves of veterans Sunday, noting that records are not complete and urging families to share information with officers at the veterans’ organizations.

Ceremonies began at the American Legion plot, where representatives of each branch of the service placed colored carnations at the base of the monument, commemorating the sacrifices of men and women in each branch of the nation’s military service.

Some of them rushed to join the rifle squad, which would render a 21-shot salute to those who lay in eternal rest near their feet.

Flowers were placed by Jeff Knight, representing the U.S. Navy, Charles Griego, United States Marine Corps, Ed Sandoval, U.S. Army, Donna Gates, representing the United States Air Force, Patricia Cooper, representing the American Legion Auxiliary, William Flores, VFW 899 commander and Nadia Flores, representing the VFW Auxiliary.

A small crowd grew larger as State Sen. Larry Crowder, himself a combat veteran and member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), as well as the Legion and VFW gave the keynote address.

“I am of the belief that since the inception of this great nation, there has never been a military serviceman or woman who has died in vain,” Crowder told the audience.

“Our prayers should be that no American soldier will die, in a time of war, in a world such as we live in, with turmoil. We should go forward with our idealism and values that maintain a nation of honor.”

Crowder took on a very serious tone, saying, “I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country.

“Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loves their countrymen enough to die for them.”

“Yet we must try to honor them — not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions, we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”

“Our first obligation to them and to ourselves is plain enough. The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper.

“Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden and just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we — in a less final, less heroic way — be willing to give of ourselves.

“It’s not just strength or courage that we need, but understanding and a measure of wisdom, as well. We must understand enough of our world to see the value of our alliances. We must be wise enough about ourselves to listen to our allies, to work with them, to build and strengthen the bonds between us.

“Our understanding must also extend to potential adversaries. We must strive to speak of them not belligerently, but firmly and frankly. And that is why we must never fail to note, as frequently as necessary, the wide gulf between our codes of morality.  And that’s why we must never hesitate to acknowledge the irrefutable distances between our view of man as master of the state and their view of man as servant of the state. Nor must we ever underestimate the seriousness of their aspirations to global expansion. The risk is the very freedom that has been so dearly won.”

“It is this honesty of mind that can open paths to peace, that can lead to fruitful negotiation, that can build a foundation upon which the treaties between nations can stand and last – treaties that can someday bring about a reduction in the terrible arms of destruction, arms that threaten us with war even more terrible than those that have taken the lives if the Americans we honor today.

“And we owe them something, those men and women who serve. We owe them first a promise: That just as they did not forget their missing comrades, neither, even will we.

“And there are other promises. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance.

“We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong.

“Thank you and may God bless America.”

Ending the ceremonies, Donna Gates played “Taps” while the honor guard prepared to fire the traditional 21-gun salute.

After ceremonies at the Legion plot, honors were rendered at the VFW plot and the POW-MIA plot at the very western end of the cemetery.

Finally, honors were given to those who lay at rest in the Spanish Cemetery along the Co-op Road just south of Alamosa.

Captions: Flags were completely unfurled by a growing, prevailing wind at the 1913 Spanish Cemetery Monday morning as members of the Honor Guard fired the traditional salute, members of veterans organizations placed flowers at the monument and American Legion Chaplain Frank “Boogie” Romero prepared to offer the closing prayer./Photos by Sylvia Lobato

State Sen. Larry Crowder offers a patriotic, memorial speech to the people assembled at the American Legion plot Monday. Listening in are, from left, William Flores, Pat Cooper and Ed Sandoval.

Offering the 21-volley salute include, from left, Chris Flores, Alamosa County Veterans Service Officer Frank Muniz, Boogie Romero Jr., Chris Martinez, Jeff Knight and Charles Griego.