By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice
Active duty military, veterans and those prisoners of war or missing in action who never made it home were all honored Friday with bipartisan measures in the Colorado House and Senate.
House Joint Resolution 25-1010, by Republican Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Sen. Janice Rich and with Democrat Rep. Sean Camacho and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, commemorated Military Appreciation Day.
The resolution notes more than 47,000 Coloradans serve in a branch of the armed forces in active or reserved duty, and another 340,000 military veterans call the state home.That is roughly about 8% of the state’s population.
HJR 25-1011, by Republican Rep. Ryan Armagost and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and by Democrat Rep. Matthew Martinez and Sen. Matt Ball, recognized Gold Star families, the families of more than one million since the Revolutionary War to have died in service to the country.
“Long after the battles have ended, as our stars and stripes of liberty fly, the families who have at home a folded flag and at the table an empty seat deserve our respect and our support,” the resolution reads.
HJR 25-1012, by Republican Rep. Stephanie Luck and Sen. Rod Pelton and Democrat Rep. Matthew Martinez and Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, noted the 57th anniversary of the capture of the U.S.S. Pueblo by North Korea.
HJR 25-1013, by Republican Rep. Rebecca Keltie and Sen. Lisa Frizell and Democrat Rep. Michael Carter and Janice Marchman, recognized Colorado veterans on the 80th anniversary of World War II ending.
The resolution notes 250,000 Coloradans served in WWII and 3,586 never returned home.
HJR 25-1014, by Republican Rep. Chris Richardson and Sen. Marc Catlin and Democrat Rep. Carter and Sen. Kyle Mullica, recognizes the service and sacrifice of Coloradans during the Vietnam War.
There were 623 Coloradans who never returned home from the Vietnam War, the resolution notes, and 116,000 surviving Coloradans who served.
HJR 25-1015, by Republican Rep. Keltie and Sen. Frizell and Democrat Rep. Martinez and Sen. Lisa Cutter, honors Korean War veterans who served in the “forgotten war”.
“Korean War veterans sacrificed greatly, returning home to little recognition, yet their courage and commitment remain a testament to their patriotism,” the resolution reads.
HJR 25-1016, by Republican Rep. Anthony Hartsook and Sen. Byron Pelton and Democrat Rep. Sean Camacho and Sen. Marc Snyder, honored veterans of the Persian Gulf War.
Three Coloradans were killed in action during the Persian Gulf War.
HJR 25-1017, by Republican Rep. Keltie and Sen. John Carson and Democrat Rep. Lisa Feret and Sen. Dylan Roberts, honors the 10th Mountain Division, an elite WWII U.S. Army mountain warfare unit.
HJR 25-1018, by Republican Rep. Carlos Barron and Democrat Rep. Martinez and Sens. Robert Rodriguez and Julie Gonzales, honors all Hispanic veterans.
A total of 59 Hispanic veterans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, and 200,000 Hispanic Americans are serving in active duty today, the resolution reads.
HJR 25-1019, by Republican Rep. Larry Don Suckla and Sen. Cleave Simpson and Democrat Rep. Monica Duran and Sen. Ball, recognizes the contributions and sacrifices of Native Americans in military service.
Colorado includes the traditional lands of Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute and Navajo tribes.
“Over one-third of able-bodied Native American men between the ages of 18 and 50, and as much as 70 percent of certain tribal populations, served during World War II, representing the highest per capita contribution to the total war effort of any demographic group in the United States,” the resolution reads.