Colorado Freedom Memorial Panels Mark Historic "Journey Home" with Community Celebration in Fort Morgan, Colo., on April 8

The panels were created by one of the leading glass manufacturing companies in the world, Viracon, at their Minnesota facility. Along the way, these distinguished panels will be escorted with the diligence and dedication due to any fallen soldier returning home.

The Colorado Freedom Memorial is the first memorial of its kind in the country. The memorial will rise in honor of all of Colorado’s fallen soldiers from every war dating back to the Spanish American War (1898), and every branch of the military. The result of more than 12 years of private fundraising and donations, the Colorado Freedom Memorial will be dedicated to Colorado, and Colorado’s Gold Star Families on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26, 2013.

Upon arrival in Julesburg, Colo., the truck transporting the panels will be met by the Federal Protection Agency which will be providing a Dignified Honors Escort for the panels through Colorado to arrival at the memorial site in Aurora. The transport will stop in Fort Morgan, Colo., for a community “welcome home” celebration at City Park in downtown Fort Morgan beginning at 9 a.m.

The Fort Morgan celebration will feature law enforcement escorts, choral performances, local veterans, area mayors and more. Upon departure from Fort Morgan, the convoy will be joined by the Colorado Patriot Guard Riders, who have pledged to assist in the escort of the panels.

“Many of the men and women who are honored on the Memorial are buried in American cemeteries overseas, or their remains were not recovered,” said Colorado Freedom Memorial Founder Rick Crandall. “We’ve always felt that these glass panels allow us to bring these heroes home, if by name only, and they deserve a journey worthy of their sacrifice."