The monument was completed almost one year after ground was broken in 2007, but for Tom Howley, a naval aviator in World War II and the Korean War, it was the culmination of almost 10 years of work.

"When I first thought of this idea, it was a dream in a way," Howley said to the crowd that ringed the black granite memorial. He credited the VFW and the entire veterans' community for seeing it through to completion.

"If you have a tough job to do, call a veteran and their friends," he said.

Veterans of each of America's wars since World War II were in attendance - there are nine World War II vets living in the Durango area, but Howley said his true motivation to build the memorial was to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

"These young people who will never be older are the ones who made it possible for all of you here today, all the freedoms we've heard about and our way of life," Howley said.

The three-panel, two-sided memorial pays tribute to the veterans of every American conflict since the American Revolution. It is surrounded by seven flagpoles, the banners for which were raised in sequence by veterans of each branch of the military.

A central pole flies the U.S. flag and the POW-MIA flag and was sponsored by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, whose veterans raised the national flag for the first time at the new memorial.

"It's an honor for our tribe to participate in honoring the veterans of the different armed forces," Southern Ute Chairman Clement Frost said.

"It's the only way that we'll remember, each and every day as we come by it, the men and women who have served to give us the peace we have today."

Frost and Howley were among several speakers, including Durango City Councilor Michael Rendon, La Plata County Manager Shawn Nau, and master of ceremonies and Veterans of Foreign Wars Durango post commander Bill Morris.

Lisa Schwantes, who works in the Durango office of U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., read a letter on behalf of the senator.

The memorial cost more than $100,000. Morris and Howley will continue their fundraising efforts for as long as necessary. Sponsorship of several of the flagpoles is open, and money is also being raised through the sale of paving stones honoring veterans. The pavers will eventually cover the plaza area surrounding the memorial.

To contribute to the Durango Veterans Memorial fund or purchase a paver in honor of a veteran, call Morris at 749-4897.

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