Patriots Day: Saluting Our American Heroes

Editor,
    Members of the Carbon Valley Community are joining together to organize the Patriots Day Remembrance on Sunday, 9-11-11.
    The event will honor the 10-year remembrance of 9/11 as well as salute our American heroes including veterans, active military and first responders. It also coincides with the Sunday morning Honor Flight taking World War II Veterans from Loveland to DIA, where they will be flown to Washington, D.C.
    The Honor Flight Network (www.honorflight.org) is a nonprofit organization created solely to honor American veterans for all their sacrifices. They transport our heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect on their memorials. Top priority is given to senior veterans, World War II survivors, along with other veterans who may be terminally ill.
    The event will be on the west I-25 Frontage Road in front of the new Frederick Firestone Fire Protection District’s administration building, just north of Fire Station 2, from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Carbon Valley Rotary Club will place 100, 3-foot-by-5-foot  American flags along a mile stretch of the west frontage road, interspersed among police and fire equipment. There will be a 20-foot red, white and blue banner that says “Thank you veterans.”
    The public is invited to line up to cheer on, wave and salute the honor flight as the buses travel past on I-25 about 8:30 a.m.
    “Our goal is a mile of people – a mile of smiles,” said Barb Goettsch, past Rotary president and coordinator of the event.
    The day will begin with a pancake breakfast from 6:30 to 8 a.m. hosted by the Sons of the American Legion. A $5 per person donation will go to the Honor Flight Fund. After the honor flight buses have gone by, an outdoor memorial ceremony, officiated by the Frederick Firestone Fire Department, will be at 9:15 a.m.
    The event will then move indoors for another memorial ceremony, followed by a meet and greet with local veterans, and a burgers and brats cookout sponsored by TeamBTS. A $5 per person donation will go to the Honor Flight Fund.
    The Carbon Valley Community is excited to honor our American heroes and hopes that the community will come out in force to support the cause. Some of the organizations that are helping plan the event include the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, Carbon Valley Rotary Club, city of Dacono, town of Firestone, town of Frederick, Frederick Firestone Fire Protection District, Mountain View Fire Protection District, Lions Club, the police departments of Dacono, Firestone and Frederick, Tri-Town Seniors and the Young Marines.
    If you would like more information on the event or would like to volunteer, contact Barb Goettsch at barbgoettsch@carbonvalleyrotary.org.
Beverly J. Mendel
Past President
Carbon Valley Rotary
303-596-7731
www.carbonvalleyrotary.org