Honoring those who have served

As Veterans Day 2021 approaches, the Niwot Community Association is once again honoring the local men and women who have served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces through the Veterans Banner Project. Earlier this month, nearly 50 full-color banners featuring the names, photographs, branch, and service years of military members past and present with local connections were installed along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square where they will hang through Veterans Day.

Behind each of these banners is a unique story, and though some are more heroic than others, each tells a tale of bravery, sacrifice, and love of country. Full biographies of the veterans are available on the NCA's website (niwot.org/veterans/). Below are a few samples:

Richard A. Piland

Banner location: 2nd Avenue

Commander Richard "Dick" Piland's Naval Aviation career began while he was at Oregon State University as he began Aviation Officer Candidate School in the summers. He was commissioned in September 1969, and began flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Fla. and NAS Corpus Christi, Tx. Dick was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1971.

He was assigned to fly P-3 Orions conducting operational and training flights at Patrol Squadron 46 at NAS Moffett Field, Ca. and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan from 1971 to 1975. Their main mission was to spot, identify, and track submarines off the coast of Vietnam.

From 1975 to 1978, Dick returned to NAS Whiting Field, Fla. as a flight instructor. He was honored as Flight Instructor of the Year and was privileged to bring the new T34C prop jet trainers from the Beechcraft factory in Kansas to Whiting Field as a replacement for the T34B's.

Landing on a carrier was a thrilling experience during training and Dick got to continue this while stationed on the USS Enterprise CVN 65. Although this tour sadly ended in dry dock in Bremerton, Wa., he continued to instruct and train pilots.

In 1980 to 1984, Dick returned to NAS Moffett Field and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan to again serve as a P-3 Orion pilot at Patrol Squadron 47.

The high point of Dick's career was the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Facility in Mildenhall, U.K., a Fleet Logistics Support Squadron. He received the Meritorious Service Medal for his commitment and performance.

Commander Piland retired from the Navy in September 1989 to Niwot, CO. where he began a second career as a pilot for United Airlines.

Kirk Stewart

Banner location: Cottonwood Square

Kirk Stewart received a Presidential Appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated with honors in 1969. He served in Southeast Asia in 1968 planning air-to-air refueling missions with the Strategic Air Command. After commissioning he attended graduate school and was assigned AF Systems Command where he performed advanced technology development of space sensors and nuclear propulsion devices and defined and managed space flight missions for their testing.

In 1974, he was transferred to the Secretary of the Air Force Special Programs, now known as the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), to oversee development of classified space programs. His main focus was on electronic intercept and space collection systems. He also managed the production of launch vehicle upper stages for synchronous orbit, and directed the launch of several satellites for the CIA and AF.

Upon leaving the Air Force in 1977, he moved to Niwot and continued work in space mission design, satellite development, and program management on DoD and NASA programs with Ball Aerospace, The Aerospace Corporation, and as an independent consultant to the Navy and small Colorado and California based aerospace firms. He received his Ph.D. from CU/Boulder in 1999.

Owen Irby

Banner location: 2nd Avenue

Owen Irby was born January 2, 1923. He was inducted in the Army Jan 6, 1943 and became a waist gunner on a B17 named "I'll Be Around." He was shot down April 29, 1944 after 15 missions, landed in The North Sea, and was captured by the Germans April 30, 1944. He was a prisoner of war until he was liberated by the British on April 16, 1945. He was discharged October 18, 1945.

Owen attended the American Academy of Horology in Denver, Colorado, to become a watchmaker. He married Rita Travis and moved back to his home state of Arkansas where they had four children. They returned to Colorado in 1962. In 1965, he purchased Schapell's Jewelers in Boulder, and retired 30 years later. He worked with his youngest daughter, Jan Kahl, at Niwot Jewelry & Gifts until his death in 1998.

Julie Strecker Hoxha

Banner location: Cottonwood Square – 19

Julie Strecker Hoxha is a Colorado native and graduated from Niwot High School as an Honor Student in 2004. She accepted a Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Julie graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and law studies. She commissioned as a 2nd LT in the United States Army and was assigned to the Chemical Corps.

Julie's first duty station was at the Army base in Schweinfurt, Germany where she spent three years, returning to the states in 2012. During that tour of duty Julie was promoted to 1st LT. After Germany, Julie attended the Signal Corps school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and transferred to the Signal Corps in 2012.

Julie's next assignment was at Fort Hood, Texas, as the BN S6 with the 1st MED BDE. There she was promoted to Captain in 2012 and was sent to the Captain's Career Course in Fort Gordon, Georgia.

In 2014, Julie volunteered for overseas assignment in Qatar and was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan for one year during Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Freedom's Sentinel (OFS). Upon her return in 2015, she was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Julie transferred to the Army Reserves in 2018 and was also promoted to Major that year. She is currently serving in the Army Reserves at Fort Bragg, NC as a Command and General Staff College student.

Julie is a graduate of the Chemical Basic Officer Leader's Course, Signal Corps Captain's Career Course, Airborne Course and will complete the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Course in summer 2021.

Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 CS), Overseas Service Ribbon (3), NATO medal, Parachutist badge, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (gold).

Julie is married to Major Bimi Hoxha who serves on Active Duty in the U.S. Army. They recently had their first child, Nora, and currently reside at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.