About seven miles west of Pleasant View, a veteran’s memorial at Sylvan Cemetery honors three war heroes who never returned home.
The 5-foot-tall concrete memorial includes three bronze plaques, honoring a Korean War veteran and two World War II veterans. The center panel recognizes U.S. Navy submariner Robert Williford, who was lost at sea in 1944 while aboard the USS Scorpion.
Williford’s military honors, including a Purple Heart, were recently returned to family members in Cortez. The medals were discovered last fall at the base of a tree in a wooded area near Mena, Ark.
In related news, a Veteran’s Day dedication ceremony will be held at the Cortez cemetery on Monday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m. The event proceeds a 1 p.m. Veteran’s Day parade along Main Street.
Also, to honor the sacrifices of all veterans, Mesa Verde National Park offers free park admission to everyone from Nov. 9-11.
Finally, the Veteran’s Day celebration continues as Mesa Elementary students present a Veteran’s Day assembly on Tuesday, November 12, at 1:30 p.m.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
