Commerce City salutes veterans at ‘Hometown Hero’ event

COMMERCE CITY – Join city officials in a salute to service men and women at the Hometown Hero Veterans Celebration, Nov. 9 at the newly refurbished Veterans’ Memorial.

The city will unveil the renovated memorial, located just north of the Recreation Center. The renovation included brick pavers with veterans’ names and service information.

“As a city, we want to pay tribute to veterans everywhere,” said Mayor Paul Natale. “We owe a great debt to the service men and women who have fought and are still fighting for our way of life and all that we enjoy as free citizens.”

The celebration begins with a special ceremony that includes an address from Col. David Zeh, vice commander of the Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver. The center is responsible for personnel and administrative support to more than 980,000 Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard forces to ensure they are available in the event of a national emergency.

Also participating in the ceremony will be the Adams City High School Junior ROTC Eagle Battalion, which will post colors, Commerce City resident Michelle Daniels singing the national anthem, and the playing of “Taps” by bugler Staff Sgt. Roger Hernandez, Jr.

Following the laying of a wreath, the celebration moves inside the Recreation Center for live entertainment and more. Women’s quartet Déjà Vu will lead the audience in patriotic songs and a short ceremony will highlight the Missing Man table on display. Participants can also enjoy some good, old-fashioned, American apple pie and view Veterans’ Memorial memorabilia on display in the lobby.

Renovation of the memorial began this summer and is expected to be completed in time for the celebration. The redesign features memorial pavers, seating and new landscaping. Information about purchasing a brick paver will be available at the ceremony. For more information about the pavers, call the Recreation Center at 303-289-3789.

For more information about the Hometown Heroes Veterans Celebration, contact Recreation Supervisor Maripat Gallas at 303-289-3761.