Pueblo D60 'Pride and Patriotism' celebration to host Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix
Drew Dix, Pueblo's only living Medal of Honor recipient, will make a special appearance at Pueblo Memorial Hall on Thursday, Nov. 10 during the annual "Pride and Patriotism" Veterans Day celebration.
Now in its seventh year, Pride and Patriotism is a tribute to veterans hosted through a partnership between Pueblo School District 60 and the Center for American Values. In addition to being the first Pride and Patriotism event to have a Medal of Honor recipient as its guest speaker, the ceremony also will feature musical performances, artwork and written presentations showcasing the talents of Pueblo D60 students.
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Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the celebration will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are not required for the free event. Steve Henson, retired Chieftain editor and journalist, will serve as the evening's emcee.
"Medal of Honor recipients, as you can imagine, they are pretty busy — especially on major holidays like Veterans Day," said Dalton Sprouse, communications director for Pueblo D60. "For us to have (Dix) in Pueblo, Colorado, his hometown, we're just so excited about the event this year."
Four Medal of Honor recipients — Dix, William Crawford, Carl Sitter and Raymond "Jerry" Murphy — were raised in Pueblo, earning the city the nickname "Home of Heroes." Additionally, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Warren Dockum resided in the Turkey Creek area near Pueblo at the end of his life and is buried at Roselawn Funeral Home and Cemetery.
"We use the stories of the recipients as examples of extreme sacrifice or everyday heroes... how to give back to their community, to be better individuals, whether it's in their home, in their classroom or in their community," said Tanya Quintana, program director for the Center for American Values. "Drew will always say, 'Whatever you do, be passionate about it and give it 100%.'"
Dix, a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of Centennial High School, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Jan. 16, 1969 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" during the Vietnam War, according to his Medal of Honor Citation. He co-founded the Center for American Values in 2010.
Musical performances during this year's Pride and Patriotism celebration will include choir and band performances from students in Pueblo D60's north and central quadrants. Cross-town rivals Pueblo Centennial High School and Pueblo Central High School will join forces for a drum line tribute to veterans. The national anthem will be sung by a chorus of Pueblo D60 alumni and staff.
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Collaborative art pieces designed by students in the north and central quadrants will be presented during the celebration. The winners of a district-wide writing contest themed "Commitment to Service" also will be recognized.
Schools in Pueblo D60's central quadrant include Bessemer Elementary School, Corwin International Magnet School, Columbian Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Goodnight Elementary School and Pueblo Central High School. The north quadrant includes Irving Elementary School, Morton Elementary School and Pueblo Centennial High School.
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Drew Dix, Pueblo D60 students headline veterans tribute celebration
