After a challenging year, heartfelt celebrations will return to the Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado for Memorial Day weekend.

On May 26, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will escort the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall into the plaza. A reading of the wall's 58,320 names will begin at 7 a.m. on May 27, and it will be on display through Memorial Day.

"When this wall comes in...you can feel it in the air. It's just a very, very emotional event," said Major Diggs Brown, founder of Veterans Plaza, in our "Tuned In to NoCo" interview. "It's really something that people need to see."

On May 28, Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary Club will present the Field of Honor, a display of 500 American flags standing near the traveling wall. Each flag will feature a medallion that honors a special hero — from veterans to first responders to personal heroes and more.

"Our Rotary club wanted to do something to help heal from our terrible 2020," said Mike Griffith, Chair of the Rotary Field of Honor committee. "If you want to find a way to say thanks, this is a great way to do it. It's a special event, and it's a way to say thank you to those who have served."

Medallions can be purchased for $50 each here. Proceeds will go not only to the Rotary club, but also to Health4Heroes, a local non-profit that supports veterans and first responders by connecting them to local health and wellness services.

"We're just trying to provide opportunities for veterans and first responders to take command of their health," said Nick Dunagan, co-founder and CEO of Health4Heroes. "I'm just thankful and grateful for everyone's support, and we look forward to making everyone proud here in this next year."

Along with speakers, food trucks and a Huey Helicopter flyover, Health4Heroes will be at the plaza's local resources fair on May 30 to spread the word about their programs.

"We have so much on the horizon that [the event's] funding is just a gift and that will make a lot of things possible for us," said Mary Scott, co-founder of Health4Heroes. "It's going to be amazing."

Learn more about the Memorial Day weekend events at Veterans Plaza by listening to the full "Tuned In to NoCo" interview with Major Diggs Brown, Mike Griffith, Nick Dunagan and Mary Scott below.

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