The traveling Vietnam War Memorial that visited Denver this past weekend crosses the country with a companion memorial reflecting stories no less moving.
The Cost of Freedom Memorial, which has traveled with the mobile Vietnam wall for two years, pays tribute to U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nearly 5,000 gold dog tags on the memorial are inscribed with the names of American soldiers killed since the early 1990s.
Hundreds of people visited the memorials brought by the American Veterans Traveling Tribute & Traveling Wall in a parking lot outside Invesco Field at Mile High.
The Cost of Freedom Memorial dog tags glimmered sharply under the sun as Stephanie Keller remembered her brother, 1st Sgt. David James Todd Jr.
Todd, a 36-year-old father of five, died in Afghanistan last August during a firefight where he is credited with saving several soldiers.
“This feels like his funeral all over again,” said Keller, with her husband, Chris, by her side. “This is all we have left.”
Todd was on his last tour of duty before his planned retirement in September. When his unit was ambushed by Taliban forces, Army officials said, Todd acted quickly to organize the force. His leadership saved at least 12 Americans. Todd was the only U.S. soldier slain in the battle.
“Thanks to this (memorial), there’s people everywhere in the country who have seen my brother. His legacy continues throughout the states,” Keller said.
Although the Cost of Freedom memorial isn’t heavily advertised, volunteer Dennis Armstrong said it’s gaining in popularity.
“It’s usually a surprise for people who come just to see the Vietnam wall,” Armstrong said. “We decided two years ago that it was time to honor all veterans.”
The traveling memorial is fitting for Todd, who Keller describes as a “super free spirit” who loved to ride his motorcycle and teach classes as an instructor at Tulane University in New Orleans.
But it is Todd’s calling to serve his country that will be his lasting legacy.
“My brother was a soldier from the day he was born,” Keller said.
Anthony Bowe 303-954-1661 or abowe@denverpost.com
