As drivers speed through Pueblo, no doubt many simply read its slogan, ‘Home of Heroes,’ and continue on their way never giving thought to that three-word billing. But in Pueblo, those three words mean a lot.
Pueblo, throughout its history, has answered the call. In WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and in the Gulf Wars, the young men and women of Pueblo have stepped forward. Their patriotism even impressed President Eisenhower when, in 1953, he awarded Puebloan Raymond G. ‘Jerry’ Murphy with the medal. “What is it…something in the water out there in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!” Perhaps, not all. But to date, this city with a current population of 111,000, has four recipients of the nation’s highest military honor.
“We have a huge veteran population,” said Pueblo City Councilman and Viet Nam era veteran, Dennis Flores. “Patriotism flows in our community…and we are not afraid to show it.”
In 1993, then Colorado Congressman Scott McGinnis had entered into the Congressional Record information on Pueblo and (at the time) its four living Medal of Honor recipients. Soon after, the Pueblo City Council connected the ‘Home of Heroes’ to the city.
Since then, the city along with veterans groups have built on the theme. Near center city at the aptly named Medal of Honor Plaza, visitors can see statues of each of the MOH recipients along with plates listing the names of all MOH recipients since the Civil War. The city has also hosted a Congressional Medal of Honor Convention for those recipients and their families still able to attend.
The city also recognizes the contribution of veterans, said Pueblo native Flores, in other locations of the city, too. At the county courthouse, located at 320 W. 10th Street, there is a memorial listing the names of Puebloans killed during the Korean Conflict. There is also a Viet Nam memorial located on a green belt just off the city’s north 29th Street. Also in Pueblo is a Veterans Bridge located along Pueblo’s Historic Arkansas River Walk. The bridge contains the names of more than 7,000 veterans from all branches of the military.
Flores said Pueblo’s Latino Chamber of Commerce, acting as a fiscal agent, also shines a spotlight on the city’s veterans. To date, it has presented commemorative statues to more than 50 Pueblo and southern Colorado veterans. Pueblo’s GI Forum*and the VFW also sponsor events throughout the year honoring veterans.
Flores says Pueblo, along with its sons and daughters, answered the call when the nation needed them most and that Latinos, in particular, did their part. “They did not side-step their duty when they got drafted. You didn’t see many Latinos go to Canada.”
The city has been careful to refer to Puebloans and others who have worn the MOH not as ‘winners,’ but as ‘recipients.’ The reference is keeping in line with military protocol
Puebloans who have received the MOH are William J. Crawford, Carl L. Sitter, Raymond G. ‘Jerry’ Murphy and Drew D. Dix.
For more information on Pueblo’s Memorial Day events call the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce for information. The number is 719.542.1704.
*The American GI Forum originated in Corpus Cristi, Texas, in 1948 by Dr. Hector P. Garcia to address the contributions of Mexican American veterans who, at the time, were regularly not granted admission to other veterans groups.
