Several local events will honor veterans for Memorial Day on Monday.
In Cortez, people are invited to a ceremony at 6 a.m. at the entrance of the Cortez Cemetery.
The event features an honor guard and color guard, a rifle salute and a performance of taps. The significance of Memorial Day will be explained, and there will be a prayer.
At 7 a.m., the public is invited to a breakfast at the American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75 in Cortez at 320 N. Harrison St. Before the meal, veterans will be honored with a rifle salute and prayer.
At 9:30 a.m. at the Dolores Community Center, the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a wreath ceremony. A wreath is placed on the Dolores River to commemorate sailors lost at sea.
At 10 a.m. in Mancos, a ceremony will be held at the Cedar Grove cemetery on Road 41 south of town.
At 11 a.m. in Rico, there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Valley Rico Cemetery on Colorado Highway 145 with lunch served at the community center.
On Saturday, poppy lapels will be for sale at City Market, Safeway, Wal-Mart and other places as a fundraiser for veteran groups and programs. The flowers symbolize the poppy fields at Flanders Field from World War I.
American flags are being placed on the graves of veterans at area cemeteries.
