Veterans honored in Niwot with banner ceremony

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10, over 100 Niwot residents gathered in Cottonwood Square for a ceremony honoring veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country.

The event marked the culmination of the Veterans Banner Project, sponsored by the Niwot Community Association (NCA) and Niwot Business Association (NBA). For the past month, banners have been displayed around downtown Niwot on Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square, each honoring a veteran nominated by a community member.

Walking down Second Avenue, residents could see a parade of banners featuring service members from the 19th to the 21st century, from the Civil War to the Iraq War. Underneath each photo on the banners were the branch, rank, and years of service of each honored veteran.

Now in its sixth year, the Veterans Banner Project was conceived by Sheila Ray, inspired by a similar project in her hometown of Emporia, Kansas. When Ray moved to Colorado, she wanted to bring the banner idea to her new community. NCA Treasurer Terry Larsen helped her bring this vision to life and has organized the project for several Veterans Days since.

Each veteran honored through the banners has a personal connection to a Niwot community member. Sponsors were asked to write a biography of the veteran they nominated, which can be found at http://www.niwot.org/veterans.

In Cottonwood Square, the sound of John Philip Sousa marches filled the crisp fall air, courtesy of the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band-an ensemble all in attendance agreed needs a shorter name. The band played a beautiful rendition of the national anthem, followed by a medley of the official songs for all seven branches of the military, including the new Space Force anthem, "Semper Supra."

The Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms provided cookies and other baked goods to the assembled crowd. Known for their care packages sent to deployed servicemen and servicewomen overseas, the Cookie Moms are famous for their dedication to home baked goods and getting them where they are most appreciated. Among the treats at the ceremony were sugar cookies made from a WWII-era Navy cookbook recipe, reflecting the resourcefulness of the time, with less sugar due to rationing-yet still delicious.

Following the music, Don Strecker gave a speech about his three daughters, whom he and his wife, Patty, sponsored this year. Laura Strecker Gastelum, Sarah Strecker Hermida, and Julie Strecker Hoxha-all of whom grew up in Niwot-joined the Army, each finding a unique path within military service. Don Strecker's pride was evident as he spoke about their accomplishments and the paths their Army careers had taken them. He also shared the more difficult side of being deployed, telling the story of how Laura was inspired to become a hospice nurse after witnessing the death of comrades during a tour in Iraq. "No one should die alone," Strecker reported his daughter saying.

As the band resumed playing and the sun dipped behind the trees, attendees lingered, sharing stories of those they had lost, those who served, and those who still serve, and perhaps with reflections on the future of this nation that so many have protected.