{"id":2444647,"date":"2019-05-27T15:36:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-27T21:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park\/"},"modified":"2019-05-27T16:11:01","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T22:11:01","slug":"hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds gather for Memorial Day in Aspen at redesigned Veterans Memorial Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.8239845261122\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-306565-679\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.<\/strong><br \/>\nDavid Krause \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the creation of the original Veterans Memorial Park, gets assistance Monday to light a candle Monday to commemorate the Memorial Day celebration in Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the creation of the original Veterans Memorial Park, gets assistance Monday to light a candle Monday to commemorate the Memorial Day celebration in Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>\nDavid Krause \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the creation of the original Veterans Memorial Park, gets assistance Monday to light a candle Monday to commemorate the Memorial Day celebration in Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the creation of the original Veterans Memorial Park, gets assistance Monday to light a candle Monday to commemorate the Memorial Day celebration in Aspen.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.<\/strong><br \/>\nDavid Krause \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-2.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.<\/strong><br \/>\nDavid Krause \/ The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"David Krause \/ The Aspen Times | A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/05\/memorialday-atd-052819-3-3.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Enjoying a bright spring day with flags snapping in a brisk wind, hundreds of people gathered Monday at the newly redesigned Veterans Memorial Park to honor their fallen fellow soldiers, family members and friends in the annual Aspen event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The park was filled with men and women who have served and many wore jackets, hats and shirts to honor their time in the different branches. Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines all came together. It was the first Memorial Day Observance <a id=\"N0xed5250N0xeefaa0:N0xed5250N0xefafd0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspen-honors-veterans-at-new-memorial-park\/\">since the park was rededicated in November<\/a> after 31 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The memorial, which is nestled between the Pitkin County\u2019s courthouse and its new administration building on Main Street, has been under construction the past two springs, and the annual event has been <a id=\"N0xed5250N0xeefb00:N0xed5250N0xefb0f0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspens-memorial-day-observance-remembers-the-fallen-and-those-who-did-come-back\/\">at the park next to Aspen City Hall<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis is such a beautiful, new place to honor our veterans,\u201d retired Col. Dick Merritt said. \u201cOr to come and think about them for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the creation of the original park, lit a candle atop the new memorial to commemorate the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After comments from organizers and local veterans\u2019 activists, a few veterans and community members came from the crowd to talk about their fallen friends and family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Janis Nark, a nurse in Vietnam in 1970-71 who came to Aspen after the war, came forward Monday to honor her fellow Army nurse Karen Ebhardt. They met in the Army reserves in Denver before getting deployed together to the Middle East for Desert Storm in 1990.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHad it not been for Desert Storm, I would have never come to peace with my memories from Vietnam,\u201d Nark, who joined the Army out of nursing school, said after the ceremony. \u201cIt served me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nark has been on the board of director for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington D.C. for over 20 years, and is usually there for Memorial Day and Veterans Days. She does get to participate in Aspen\u2019s annual Fourth of July parade, but this year, there was an opening to stay home for Memorial Day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe have so many former military here is Aspen. I\u2019m so thrilled to get to be here this year,\u201d Nark said before heading to the Elks Lodge for the annual picnic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI speak professionally but you\u2019d never know it,\u201d she said of having to collect herself while talking to the crowd about Ebhardt. \u201cShe was my best friend. I just adored her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Charlie Hopton served in the Army in Vietnam and volunteers with the Western Slope Veterans Coalition, which helps vets in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties get their benefits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He honored his <a id=\"N0xed5250N0xeefc20:N0xed5250N0xefb7b0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/visionary-bob-lewis-dies-at-84\/\">friend Bob Lewis<\/a>, who among a myriad of things created and led the Independence Pass Foundation, the Wildwood School and the Aspen Field Biological Laboratory. Before all that, Lewis was part of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. Hopton brought Lewis\u2019 Bronze Star to Monday\u2019s event to show the crowd. Lewis died in July 2005 at the age of 84.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe came here after the war and really, really gave to the community,\u201d Hopton said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Trumpeter Dick Sundeen was recognized Monday as an honorary Marine for his years of service for playing at numerous veterans\u2019 events. The ceremony came to a close after Sundeen\u2019s rendition of \u201cTaps\u201d echoed through the courtyard and the colors were retired.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"><a href=\"mailto:dkrause@aspentimes.com\">dkrause@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/hundreds-gather-for-memorial-day-in-aspen-at-redesigned-veterans-memorial-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A large crowd gathered Monday at the new Veterans Memorial Park in Aspen to honor the military. The park, between the Pitkin County Courthouse and new administration building, was remodeled and reopened in November. David Krause \/ The Aspen Times Nancy Bosshard, an Air Force pilot in Vietnam who played an instrumental role in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2444647","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-18 21:03:24","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2444647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2444648,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444647\/revisions\/2444648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2444647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2444647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2444647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}