(MUSIC PLAYING) - IT'S ABOUT SACRIFICE AND IT'S ABOUT HONOR.

IT'S ABOUT DUTY.

- EVERY VETERAN SIGNED A BLANK CHECK UP TO INCLUDING THEIR LIFE.

- WHAT MATTERS IS THEM AND THEIR LIFE.

THEIR LIFE MATTERS.

- AIM, FIRE.

[GUNSHOT] (MUSIC PLAYING) - TODAY IS A VERY HARD DAY FOR US.

IT'S THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY SINCE MY HUSBAND'S DEATH BY SUICIDE.

AND SO, THERE IS A TON OF EMOTIONS ALREADY.

BUT THE CONNECTION THAT I'M ALREADY FEELING WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS OF BEING WITH OUR CHILDREN IS HARD TO EXPLAIN.

THERE'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CONNECTION THAT I'M FEELING WITH THEM.

THEY ARE...

CONNECTING WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED NOT NECESSARILY OUR SIMILAR SITUATION, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THE SERVICE AND THE SACRIFICE THAT COMES WITH LOVING SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY OR BEING IN THE MILITARY.

MY NAME IS CORCYNTHIA.

SEEING MY KIDS JUST GET TO BE KIDS WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND OPEN UP WITH ME AND BE VULNERABLE.

THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS TO ME.

WE'VE HAD A BEAUTIFUL AND GRACIOUS EXPERIENCE SINCE BEING HERE.

- PROJECT SANCTUARY JUST CELEBRATED OUR 14-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

IT'S SIX DAYS OF RECREATIONAL THERAPY, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING THESE FAMILIES TOGETHER TO GIVE THEM NEW MEMORIES.

BUT THEY SPEND TIME IN CLASSROOMS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP THEIR PTSD, COMMUNICATION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

AND WE'VE CREATED CLASSES IN THESE AREAS THAT THE YOUTH AND THE TEENS ARE ALSO IN, SO AGE-APPROPRIATE CLASSES ON THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER SO THAT WHEN THE FAMILIES GET TOGETHER, THEY'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN NEW TOOLS AND THINGS IN THESE AREAS.

AND IT JUST HELPS THEM COMMUNICATE.

IT'S JUST DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT THE FAMILIES HAVE TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON FIXING THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING HERE.

IT'S NEVER ABOUT JUST ONE PERSON FIXING THE PROBLEM.

- HI.

I'M SEAN SEXTON.

I AM AN EIGHT-AND-A-HALF-YEAR COMBAT VETERAN.

AND I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE HERE.

I WAS WHAT'S CALLED AIR CREW FLIGHT EQUIPMENT.

AND WE HAD A JET THAT HAD AN EMERGENCY TAKEOFF.

AND THERE WAS AN OXYGEN EQUIPMENT FAILURE, SO I WAS RUNNING ACROSS THE DESERT.

I HAD ALL OF MY BATTLE RATTLE ON, MY FIREARM, MY TOOLBOX, AND I STEPPED ON A ROCK AND SHATTERED EVERYTHING INSIDE MY FOOT.

THE DELAY--I HAD TO HOP OVER 200 YARDS ON MY GOOD FOOT TO FINISH THE MISSION AND GET THE JET TO ACTUALLY TAKE OFF.

THERE WAS AN ARMY CONVOY THAT WAS TAKING SMALL ARMS FIRE.

AND THE DELAY OF ME BEING INJURED AND ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE PLANE--ACTUALLY, FOUR GUYS PASSED AWAY.

I HAD TO WATCH THE COMBAT FOOTAGE.

WE WERE AT A FORWARD OPERATING BASE, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MEDICAL FACILITIES.

THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I'D BE MED-EVACED OUT OF THERE, I'D GET A PURPLE HEART, I WAS A HERO, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.

BUT SEEING THOSE FOUR GENTLEMEN PASS AWAY REALLY WEIGHED ON ME.

WENT TO THE VA TO GET HELP FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO HOME, THAT I WAS TOO DISABLED TO ACTUALLY COMMIT SUICIDE ON MY OWN, THAT I WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE.

AND SOMETHING KIND OF CLICKED IN MY MIND THAT NOBODY WAS THERE TO HELP ME.

I WAS DOING THIS COMPLETELY ON MY OWN.

AND IF I WANTED THE TREATMENT THAT I DESERVED, I HAD TO FIGHT FOR IT.

I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL TO BE HERE AT PROJECT SANCTUARY BECAUSE IT--HOPEFULLY, I WILL GET THE TOOLS THAT I NEED TO REINTEGRATE WITH MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

SHE HAS A LOT OF SEPARATION ANXIETY AND ACTUALLY GETS PETRIFIED AND HAS FULL-BLOWN BREAKDOWNS EVERY TIME I TRAVEL.

- I LIVE IN DENVER.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA, THE BAY AREA.

GREW UP WITH MY PARENTS.

DECIDED TO JOIN THE ARMY WHEN I WAS 18, FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

BECAME A 13 BRAVO, WHICH IS FIELD ARTILLERY.

MY FIRST LOSS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WAS IN IRAQ, AND THAT'S WHEN MY BUDDY WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF ME.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING THAT I'VE PROBABLY EVER EXPERIENCED.

I STILL LIVE WITH IT TODAY.

WHEN I CAME HOME, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A FATHER.

MY FATHER WAS NEVER A PART OF MY LIFE, SO I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND THEN, AT THE SAME TIME, I'M ALSO SUFFERING WITH THE COMBAT STRESS THAT I HAD ENDURED WHILE I WAS GONE.

EVERYONE WAS THERE, BEING A FATHER, BEING A PARENT TO THEIR KIDS, BEING A GOOD SON TO THEIR PARENTS, AND I WAS JUST KIND OF LOST.

AS FAR AS WHO I AM TO MYSELF, I REALLY DON'T SEE MYSELF AS ANYONE.

I JUST SEE MYSELF THAT I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS FOR MY KIDS AND MY WIFE NOW.

THAT'S MY NEXT CALLING IN LIFE.

I CAN NO LONGER LEAD SOLDIERS, BUT AT LEAST I CAN LEAD MY KIDS INTO A PROPER DIRECTION IN LIFE.

MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE THE CHOICES THAT I CHOSE.

- OUR PTSD TRICKLES DOWN TO THE FAMILY.

WE COME HOME, AND WE EXPLODE, WE DO THESE THINGS THAT ARE NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR FAMILY.

AND WE'RE RAISING CHILDREN IN THESE UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS.

SO, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TREATED, IT'S NOT GETTING DECIMATED DOWN TO THE FAMILIES.

AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE DESIGNED AROUND THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND BRINGING THAT CONNECTION SO ALL OF US UNDERSTAND AND WE CAN ALL BEGIN TO WORK TOGETHER.

TO DO IT BY MSYELF IS ONE THING, BUT TO DO IT AS A COMPLETE FAMILY UNIT, THAT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

AND TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

- PROJECT SANCTUARY BELIEVES THAT WHEN ONE SERVES, THE WHOLE FAMILY SERVES.

- I'M GRATEFUL TO BE IN COLORADO IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, HEALING PLACE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A KNEE, AND TO TAKE A BREATH, AND TO KNOW THAT WE'RE OK, AND WE'RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT LOVE US, AND WE'RE SAFE.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT THERE'S A SPACE FOR US TO COME AND JUST BE US, RECONNECT WITH MY KIDS ON A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY, KIND OF GIVE EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT OF COMPASSION AND GRACE, AND JUST BE SURROUNDED BY LOVE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - THESE ARE ALL OF THE GUYS THAT SERVED UNDER ME.

BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK 50 OR 60 YEARS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER SO MANY OF THE NAMES OF THE GUYS THAT SERVED UNDER YOU.

I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THESE GUYS.

WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO IN YOUR LIFE, IS TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY.

YOU'LL BE DOING YOURSELF A FAVOR AND YOUR COUNTRY A FAVOR.

AND I LOVED IT, ACTUALLY.

I'M 102.

LEO LEWIS IS MY NAME.

THIS IS MY MILITARY JACKET.

ISSUED IN 1941.

FORTUNATELY, I GOT MASTER SERGEANT STRIPES.

I WAS THE HIGHEST-PAID ENLISTED MAN IN THE SERVICE, WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT FOR ME.

[LAUGHS] THIS IS THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS.

AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WHERE I WAS ALL DURING WORLD WAR II.

IN 1941, I JOINED THE ARMY AIR CORPS AS A VOLUNTEER.

HOW LONG 80 YEARS AGO WAS, GEE, SOMETIMES I DON'T REALLY COMPREHEND HOW FAR BACK THAT REALLY WAS.

THESE ARE PICTURES OF MY BUDDIES THAT I HAD DURING WORLD WAR II.

WE WERE INFORMED, BUT THAT THERE WAS A PAN-AMERICAN AIRPLANE TO TAKE US TO OUR ASSIGNMENT, WHEREVER IT IS.

AND NOBODY WOULD TELL US WHERE THAT ASSIGNMENT WAS.

WE ENDED UP IN KARACHI, INDIA.

IT WAS INDIA AT THAT TIME.

IT'S PAKISTAN NOW.

BUT AT THAT TIME, IT WAS STILL INDIA.

KARACHI WAS A PRETTY GOOD-SIZED CITY, ACTUALLY.

YEAH, THAT'S THE LOGO OF THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER.

WELL, I ACTUALLY ENJOYED SERVING MY COUNTRY.

IN 1941, THINGS WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THEN, BUT WE HAD A GOOD AIR FORCE.

ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY IS, WHEN YOU JOIN THE SERVICE, CONCENTRATE ON YOUR BASIC TRAINING, AND YOU'LL BE HAPPY THAT YOU DID BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ADVANCE YOUR RANK IN THE MILITARY IF YOU DO THAT.

AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE THE TIME THAT I SPENT IN THE MILITARY.

- THEY WERE MY SOLDIERS!

- NO, THAT'S MINE.

- THEY WERE [INDISCERNIBLE].

I WOULD SAY FREEDOM ISN'T FREE BECAUSE WE'VE ALL SACRIFICED SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S US, OUR FAMILIES, OUR EXTENDED FAMILIES.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER.

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT OFF LIKE A COAT.

IT'S ALWAYS WITH YOU.

- WE'RE ALL GREEN.

WE'RE SOLDIERS.

WE'RE BROTHERS IN ARMS.

THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO FUNCTION.

THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO ASSIMILATE.

- PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED TO REALLY SERVING THIS NATION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THEY DESERVE THE RECOGNITION AND THE APPRECIATION OF THIS COUNTRY AS LONG AS THEY LIVE.

- OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, WE ALL SERVED, AND WE ALL SERVED WELL.

I CAME IN THE MILITARY AT AGE 17, 1979.

WHEN I CAME IN THE MILITARY, A LOT OF JOBS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR FEMALES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD NOT DO.

AND AFTER GETTING INTO THE MILITARY AND GETTING THE DISCIPLINE AND LEARNING WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO OUT OF LIFE, I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WANTED TO BE A FEMALE THAT WOULD SOAR THROUGH, DO SOME JOBS THAT MEN WOULDN'T DO, AND I WANTED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WOMEN ARE PRETTY CAPABLE, AS WELL.

- THE REASON THAT I JOINED THE ARMY, I DIDN'T SEE NO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME.

I SAW IT AS A WAY OF ESCAPING THE ENVIRONMENT THAT I WAS IN.

NEW ADVENTURE TO CHALLENGE MYSELF.

1976, I JOINED THE ARMY.

WHEN I GRADUATED BASIC AND ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, I WAS GIVEN 17 DAYS LEAVE BEFORE I HAD TO REPORT TO GERMANY.

AND I WAS IN MY UNIFORM, I WAS IN LOUISVILLE, THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION, WAITING TO CATCH A BUS.

AND AS I'M STANDING THERE IN UNIFORM, A LADY HAD A MCDONALD'S MILKSHAKE IN HER HAND, THREW IT ON ME.

WALKED BY AND JUST DUMPED HER MILKSHAKE ALL OVER ME.

WHY?

WHY?

- OVERSEAS, YOU ARE MORE ACCEPTED BY THE FOREIGNERS THAN YOU WERE IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY.

DURING MY TIME IN THE MILITARY, BOTH BEING AN OFFICER AND ENLISTED, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN A LOT OF WHITE NCO'S WOULD NOT SALUTE BLACK OFFICERS.

AND BLACK OFFICERS WERE RELUCTANT TO PURSUE THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ENTITLED TO THAT TYPE OF MILITARY COURTESY, SAME AS RENDERED TO WHITE OFFICERS, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID ANY RACIAL INCIDENT.

21 YEARS AGO, I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL NAACP, AND I WAS GIVEN A LETTER BY A RETIRED MARINE, WORLD WAR II MARINE.

AND THE LETTER KIND OF SPOKE TO HOW THE MARINE COMMANDER, THE GENERAL OFFICER WHO SIGNED THIS LETTER, WAS INCORPORATING BLACKS INTO THE MARINE CORPS.

WELL, AS MOST OF US KNOW, OFFICIALLY, IN 1948, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE EXECUTIVE ORDER INTEGRATING THE MILITARY.

PRIOR TO THAT, MILITARY UNITS WERE SEPARATE.

AND THE LETTER SPEAKS TO, THERE SHOULD BE NO PHOTOGRAPHS WHERE BLACKS AND WHITE ARE PHOTOGRAPHED TOGETHER.

AND AT NO TIME WILL A BLACK NCO EVER BE IN CHARGE OF A WHITE NCO, OR BE IN CHARGE OF WHITE SOLDIERS.

THAT WAS OFFICIAL DOCTRINE IN THE MILITARY IN 1943.

- ONCE I WAS OUT THERE, I REALIZED, NUMBER ONE, THAT THERE WAS PREJUDICE.

THE OTHER THING THAT SHOCKED ME WAS WHEN I GOT THE BRIEFING SAYING WHERE I COULD GO AND WHERE I COULD NOT GO.

NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE.

OF COURSE, I CALL MY MOM UP, CRYING, ABOUT, "I'M BLACK, I CAN'T GO HERE, AND I CAN'T GO THERE."

AND SHE GOES, "WHAT!"

AND SHE CALLED THE WING COMMANDER.

THAT DIDN'T GO REAL WELL.

BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN COLOR, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN MEN AND WOMEN.

AND THEY TOLD ME WHAT I COULD AND COULDN'T DO.

AND I WAS DETERMINED TO DO WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

SO, THAT WAS MY GOAL, IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BE A WOMAN, AND SHOW THEM THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

- COLORADO SPRINGS, WE HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL MONUMENTS, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRIBUTE TO OUR WOMEN VETS.

BECAUSE WOMEN, FOR THE LONGEST, HAVE BEEN IN THE BACKSEAT IN THE MILITARY FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

AND WE'RE RESILIENT.

WE KEPT THE FAMILIES TOGETHER.

WE WERE IN THE MILITARY.

AND WE DID THE FINANCES.

WE DID EVERYTHING.

I JUST FEEL LIKE... WE NEED TO SEE WHERE THE MILITARY'S GOING NOW, BUT WE STILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE NEED EACH OTHER.

- WHEN I WAS A COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR OF FORT CARSON, I GOT TO KNOW EVERY ONE OF MY SOLDIERS.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT, I HAD 28,000 SOLDIERS.

AND I LOST 397 SOLDIERS, WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

THEY KNEW THE RISK.

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, "WHY DID YOU VOLUNTEER TO JOIN, KNOW THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY LOSE YOUR LIFE?"

BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE SOMETHING LARGER THAN THEMSELVES.

- I LOST MY BROTHER, LON.

IT WAS 2017.

HE WAS A NAVY VET, TO SUICIDE.

AND VETERANS DAY BRINGS THIS UP TO A LOT OF US, THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT WE CAN DO.

AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S A VET, ACTIVE DUTY OR NOT, RESERVE OR NATIONAL GUARD, AND JUST LET THEM KNOW YOU CARE.

- A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE YOU, AND THEY SEE MILITARY, THEY SEE YOUR HAT OR WHATEVER, AND THEY SAY, "HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE."

BUT THE FOLKS THAT REALLY GET MY ATTENTION ARE THE ONES WHO SAY, "HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WHAT SERVICE WERE YOU IN?

WHAT DID YOU DO?

HOW LONG DID YOU SERVE?"

BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN MY TIME IN THE SERVICE.

- IT'S ABOUT SACRIFICE.

AND IT'S ABOUT HONOR.

IT'S ABOUT DUTY.

IT'S ABOUT SERVING THE GREATER GOOD.

- DETAIL.

ATTENTION.

- WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

- PRESENT ARMS.

- AND TO DUPLICATE A CLICHE, SOME GAVE ALL, ALL GAVE SOME.

AT PLACES LIKE FORT LOGAN, AND IN MILITARY CEMETERIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE TRUE COST OF FREEDOM.

- AIM.

[GUNSHOTS] BECAUSE THIS IS THE TRUE COST OF FREEDOM, WHAT YOU SEE HERE.

AND THIS IS ONLY A SMALL PORTION.

- AIM.

[GUNSHOTS] THEY'RE OUR BROTHERS.

THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY, AS WE DID.

WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEM.

ALL WE KNOW IS THAT THEY SERVED HONORABLY.

AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AS BROTHERS IN THE MILITARY, TO HONOR THEM WITH A FINAL RESTING PLACE.

WITHOUT DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF UNCLAIMED CREMAINS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

- WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE REASONS WHY FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T COME AND GET THEIR LOVED ONES.

WE FEEL IT'S OUR DUTY TO KEEP THEM SAFE UNTIL MAYBE A FAMILY MEMBER IS COMFORTABLE IN CLAIMING THEIR LOVED ONE.

AND IT COULD BE SEVERAL YEARS.

- WE ARE GOING TO HONOR SEVEN VETERANS WHOSE UNCLAIMED CREMAINS HAVE BEEN HERE AT ASPEN MORTUARY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

- WE'VE HAD SOME CREMATED REMAINS DATING BACK AS FAR AS 1989.

- THEY ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS WHO SERVED FROM CLEAR BACK TO WORLD WAR II, THROUGH KOREA, THROUGH VIETNAM, AND EVEN THE MOST CURRENT WARS.

- I'M HONORED TO WORK WITH VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA TO PLACE THESE UNCLAIMED VETERANS IN FORT LOGAN NATIONAL CEMETERY.

- IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY WITH HONOR.

THEY SERVED WITH DIGNITY.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND HOW THEY DIED OR WHEN THEY--WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY WHEN THEY DIED, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THEY WENT UNCLAIMED FOR MANY YEARS.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE GIVEN THE BURIAL THEY DESERVE.

- IT IS THIS GROUP, MEMBERS OF VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, CHAPTER 1071, WHO ARE HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN BEFORE US.

- THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED.

HE LETS ME REST IN GREEN MEADOWS.

HE LEADS ME BESIDE PEACEFUL STREAMS.

HE GUIDES ME ALONG RIGHT PATHS, BRINGING HONOR TO HIS NAME.

- JERRY BURTON BLODGETT, AIRMAN APPRENTICE, UNITED STATES NAVY, VIETNAM.

[BELL RINGS] ALLEN STEPHAN BRALLEY, CORPORAL, UNITED STATES ARMY, KOREA.

[BELL RINGS] WILLIAM DOBRANINCH, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES MARINES, PEACETIME.

[BELL RINGS] CHARLES FRANKLIN LOWELL, SECOND LIEUTENANT, UNITED STATES ARMY, KOREA.

[BELL RINGS] JOHN LARRY SCHULTE, SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY, PEACETIME.

[BELL RINGS] HARVEY THOMAS TAYLOR, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY, WORLD WAR II.

[BELL RINGS] ANTHONY TROUTNER, SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY, VIETNAM.

[BELL RINGS] ("TAPS" PLAYING) (BAGPIPES PLAYING) - ALL OF OUR VETERANS ARE CALLED COMRADES.

THEY FORM THE BOND THAT'S UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

THEY'RE CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

HARD TO EXPLAIN TO FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT SERVED.

- ABOUT 150 PEOPLE THAT NOBODY CLAIMED THAT WE HAVE IN A BIG VAULT OUT AT A CEMETERY IN FRUITA.

- AND WONDERING HOW THEIR LAST DAYS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF THEY PASSED AWAY ALONE.

- DRIVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALL THE STONES AND THE PEOPLE, AND YOU GET TO THE BACK, AND THERE'S A WORK SHED WHERE THEY KEEP THE TRACTORS AND STUFF.

AND NEXT TO THAT THERE'S A PLACE ABOUT 20 FEET SQUARE THAT JUST HAS GRASS IN IT.

AND UNDERNEATH THAT GRASS, THEY HAVE A VAULT THAT THEY KEEP UNCLAIMED CREMAINS.

[BELL RINGS] WE WILL LAY TO REST 26 VETERANS HERE, ONE VETERAN AT THE OLD VA CEMETERY ON ORCHARD MESA WITH HIS WIFE, [BELL RINGS] ONE WIFE HERE, AND ONE WIFE WILL BE GOING TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY TO BE WITH HER HUSBAND AND HER SON, WHO WAS KILLED IN A WORLD WAR II PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.

- APPROPRIATE THAT WE REMEMBER AND HONOR ALL OF OUR VETERANS AS THEY PASS AWAY.

IT'S ONE OF THE PROMISES THAT THE COUNTRY MADE TO THEM.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HONOR THAT.

- EVERY VETERAN SIGNED A BLANK CHECK UP TO INCLUDING THEIR LIFE.

ONE THING EVERY ONE OF US WAS PROMISED WAS A DIGNIFIED, HONORABLE, MILITARY BURIAL.

SITTING ON THE SHELF, THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING IT.

ALL WE ARE DOING IS FULFILLING THAT OBLIGATION.

- THEY WERE MECHANICS, FARMERS, BUSINESSMEN.

WHEN THEY WENT TO WAR, MOST OF THEM HADN'T SEEN THEIR 20TH BIRTHDAY.

THEY WERE CHILDREN EXPECTED TO BE ADULTS.

THEY WERE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, AND VIETNAM.

- WHAT MATTERS IS THEM AND THEIR LIFE.

THEIR LIFE MATTERS.

- AIM.

FIRE.

[GUNSHOT] FIRE.

[GUNSHOT] FIRE.

[GUNSHOT] - BRINGS A CLOSURE TO THE FAMILIES AND TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY.

WHENEVER WE SEE A VETERAN THAT'S NOT HONORED, IT IS A BLEMISH NOT ONLY ON THE COMMUNITY BUT ON THE VETERANS.

AND THEY TAKE IT TO HEART.

- GLENN SCHRADER, MUSICIAN, FIRS CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY, WORLD WAR I.

[BELL RINGS] JESSE ALLMON, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY, WORLD WAR II.

[BELL RINGS] MEDDIE BOYER, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] JOHN BRZAK, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] CLAUDE CANTON, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] GEORGE DAVIS, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] REX EOFF, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] HARRY FERGUSON, PRIVATE, FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] JAMES FRANKLIN, CORPORAL, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] JOSEPH HARTMAN, PRIVATE, FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] DAVID SAUER, PRIVATE, FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] GEORGE TAYLOR, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] GERHARDT VOSS, TECHNICIANS FIFTH CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] GEORGE WILSON, SR., CORPORAL, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] MURRAY GLEASON, SAILOR, UNITED STATES NAVY.

[BELL RINGS] RICHARD RAMEY, SEAMAN SECOND CLASS, UNITED STATES NAVY.

[BELL RINGS] GEORGE SHOWS, SAILOR, UNITED STATES NAVY.

[BELL RINGS] JAMES MCFARLAND, WHO WAS A RADIOMAN THIRD CLASS IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AND A CORPORAL IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, WORLD WAR II AND KOREA.

[BELL RINGS] EMERSON RICKSTREW, MASTER SERGEANT, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, KOREA AND VIETNAM.

[BELL RINGS] JOHN POORE, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] RICHARD HREN, SERGEANT, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

[BELL RINGS] ALAN CARAWAY, SPECIALIST, FIFTH CLASS, ARMY, VIETNAM.

[BELL RINGS] BRIAN HARVEY, SPECIALIST, FIFTH CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] WILLIAM HEAD, MAJOR, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] DANIEL MARTINEZ, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] AND DONALD CRAIN, PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY.

[BELL RINGS] AND THESE TWO SPOUSES, OPHELIA LISTER AND EUGENIA GLASSBURN.

MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE.

(MUSIC PLAYING)