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Photos: Veteran's Day In Aspen

About 200 people recognized veterans on Tuesday during a ceremony near the courthouse in Aspen. A list of names of Aspen veterans who have died was read as part of the observance. 

The on-looking crowd stretched out from the Veteran’s Memorial Site to Main Street as friends and family members shared words about their vets. Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron said a debt is owed to those who protect our freedom.

"For the veterans here today, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Our community is a safe place and you helped make it that way. We’re grateful and we won’t forget."

Afterward, Fred Crowley recalled his service. He received three Purple Hearts and fought in the bloody Tet Offensive in Vietnam.

"I went in there with 44 guys under my command and when I left, there were only eight left. I was medivaced home, recuperated for a year in a hospital in Boston and was given medical discharge even though I wanted to spend years in the Marine Corps."

Now Crowley helps organize these Veteran’s Day ceremonies. This year, the vets chose to also recognize their comrades lost to suicide. Four silhouette statues were set up to recognize the four local vets who took their lives. Dan Glidden is a Vietnam vet and organizer.

"You want to say suicide, well, it’s a terrible word, don’t mention or acknowledge it. So that was the idea behind it - we’ve got to put a name and face to these people and we’ve got to keep trying to work with them and help them."

Recently another local veteran died by suicide. Iraq War vet Casey Owens ended his life last month. Owens had testified before Congress about poor medical care through Veterans Affairs.