New memorial in Mead honors Gold Star Families

A new monument in Mead is telling anyone who lost a loved one in the line of duty that their sacrifice will be remembered.

After years of planning and fundraising, the town of Mead is now the home of the Northern Colorado Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. The black granite sculpture in Founders Park honors Gold Star Families, or relatives of a member of the United States military who died in service.

The Mead sculpture, which was unveiled this weekend, is the second Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Colorado. The other monument is in Aurora.

“Gold Star Families have quietly walked amongst us,” said Jerome P. Limoge Jr., retired Colorado National Guard general, on Saturday. “Often we don’t know the burden that they carry. This monument seeks to change that.”

Since 2017, the Northern Colorado Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee has raised more than $75,000 to bring the memorial to life. The monument was created by the Woody Williams Foundation, a nonprofit that places Gold Star memorials across the U.S.

“May it stand strong and silent like the heroes and families it represents,” Limoge said of the Mead monument.

On Saturday, town officials held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the monument and recognize local Gold Star Families.

“The generations to follow will know the cost of freedom and the names of those who paid for it,” said Mead Mayor Colleen Whitlow.

The Gold Star families in attendance were some of the first people to place yellow roses at the base of the monument during the ceremony. Many took a moment of silence as they touched the monument with one hand and held a small American flag with the other.

For Loveland resident Kyle Anderson, the ceremony was deeply personal. His brother, Christopher “Doc” Anderson, died in military service.

“If I’m being real, I’m still broken,” Anderson said while holding back tears. “It’s been 20 years, just about, since the loss of my brother. Honestly, sometimes it feels like it’s been 20 minutes.”

Kyle Anderson grew up in Longmont and is a graduate of Longmont High School. He recalled watching his mother receive a folded flag from Christopher Anderson’s casket two times – once in Longmont and once at Arlington National Cemetery.

With sadness and anger, however, comes pride in what his brother gave to his country. Addressing his fellow Gold Star families, Anderson said the Mead monument will be somewhere they can gather and grieve.

“You’re not alone. We’re not alone, and together we’re all going to move forward,” Anderson told them.

The hosts of the ceremony also announced a new donation of $20,000, which will go toward the establishment of two additional flagpoles next to the monument.

Mark Harris, president of the Woody Williams Foundation, served in the Marines for 24 years. Looking at the Gold Star families sitting next to the monument on Saturday, Harris told them that his pain is nothing compared to the experience of losing a loved one.

“Thank you for being here and allowing a place to happen in your community where people can go and remember what they’ve lost,” Harris said.