Highlands Ranch plans Memorial Day service at veterans monument

The Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument drew residents to Civic Green Park for a Memorial Day service that put local names and local sacrifice at the center of the holiday. The observance ran from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 25, at 9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd., beside the Highlands Ranch Library, and was designed to honor the more than one million men and women who have died in service to the country.

The Metro District encouraged guests to arrive early to read the dedication tiles and spend time in the memorial area before the service began. Seating was not provided, so attendees who could not stand for the full program were advised to bring their own chair. The ceremony took place at Civic Green Park, 9370 Ridgeline Blvd., making the monument a visible gathering place rather than a distant ceremonial site.

The program brought together the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Highlands Ranch Concert Band and the Highlands Ranch American Legion Christopher M. Falkel Post 1260. Andy Jones, a U.S. Navy veteran and Highlands Ranch Metro District Board vice chair, emceed the observance, while remarks were scheduled from Al Duff, a U.S. Army veteran and Highlands Ranch resident, and Jonathan Barr, a U.S. Marines veteran and Highlands Ranch resident. Their presence reflected how the event blended military tradition with the community’s own ranks of veterans, families and neighbors.

The monument itself carries that local history. The project began in 2006, broke ground on July 1, 2008, and was dedicated on July 1, 2009. It cost about $200,000 and was funded entirely through private sources, including donations, grants, sponsorships and dedication tiles. In 2007, the Highlands Ranch Metro District Board agreed to advance up to $140,000 so construction could start while fundraising continued.

At the center of the memorial is a tribute to Staff Sgt. Christopher Falkel, Sgt. Jon Stiles and Cpl. Max Donahue, giving the site a personal significance that reaches beyond Memorial Day. The monument is also used for other observances, including Veterans Day, and remains an educational and commemorative space for residents of all ages.

Douglas County government also marked Memorial Day across the county and said county offices were closed Monday, May 25, in observance of the holiday.