Memorial Day 2015: How Differently Two Colorado Towns Will Celebrate

The Memorial Day 2015 parade in Denver to honor those who died while serving in the military of the United States will probably not happen this year. The reason is that the city council issued new rules on how the parade is to be conducted. This is the first time in 85 years that there is a possibility that the parade will be cancelled.

According to Andrew Grieb, of the Denver United Veterans Council, this was the first time in the 85 year history of the parade that the city council had gotten so deeply involved. [9 News]

“[The city] wanted final decision-making authority over everything, from parade routes, who was in the parades, who was being invited. The council, after 85 years, said we can not abide by that.”

Due to all the restrictions imposed for the Memorial Day 2015 celebration, the Denver United Veterans Council will not host the parade this year and no other organizations have stepped forward to host the parade. Memorial Day 2015 falls on May 25 this year, and the Denver City Council has promised to release further details soon on the events taking place that day.

Durango, on the other hand, is taking a different approach to their celebration of the holiday with the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic [Durango Herald]. The city has promised to make their event special this year because they have reserved 80 seats on the the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which races alongside of the cyclists, and the seats will be filled with veterans, wounded warriors, Gold Star Families and Adaptive Sports Association athletes.

Jana Schaefer, of the Disabled American Veterans, said she had no problem filling the seats. Currently there is a waiting list.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. It is Memorial Day, and a lot of times people forget what this day is all about. This is something that’s honoring (deceased soldiers) and their families.”

Events are being sponsored across the US from places like Chicago where a funeral home is offering flags for volunteers to carry to honor veterans. New York City is offering a Memorial Day Run.

Last year’s celebration of Memorial Day had some controversy attached to it with the circulation of memes on Facebook that said “in case you thought it was BBQ Day.” The memes showed various people, including children, who had lost someone in the current war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

With Memorial Day 2015 just around the corner, the commemoration of this holiday has the potential to offer a wide variety of events to celebrate the lives of those who died in the service of the United States.

How will you spend Memorial Day 2015? What events do you plan to attend?

[Photo Credit Free Large Images]