Memorial Day 2023

When Riverside Cemetery opened in 1876, Denver was a young city hoping to appear civilized by dedicating a park-like setting to remember its dead. In 1876, Decoration Day was also a relatively new observance, created to honor soldiers killed during the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday included American military personnel from all wars and gradually was referred to as Memorial Day.

Today, Riverside Cemetery is home to over 1,200 Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate, who came to Colorado after the war to seek their fortunes in the gold fields, homestead, ranch or farm. Others found work on the railroads, as storekeepers, tradesmen, lawmen, politicians and preachers. Block 27, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Block, is the location of the majority of Union soldiers buried at Riverside. 

By the time Globeville was incorporated in 1891, its citizens were familiar with death and dying. Men lost their lives in accidents in the area's smelters, foundries, and railroads; children succumbed to diphtheria, typhoid, measles and women died in childbirth. Families would gather on Memorial Day to plant flowers, clean the graves, have a picnic lunch and share stories of their relatives buried there. Services at Riverside Cemetery might also include military bands, religious ceremonies and speeches.

Lydia Gerhardt Heck was born in 1906 and fondly recalled, "Years ago when we were kids, on Memorial Day (which we called Decoration Day), we'd take our lunch and go over to Riverside Cemetery. A lot of our family - my folks and my husband's folks - are buried there. We young folks would hear stories about our relatives - it was like a family reunion."

Memorial Day has come to mean the official start of summer with backyard barbeques, outdoor activities and three days off from school or work. But before heading into a busy season, families might want to schedule an outing to honor and celebrate those who came before us.

There will be a FREE history tour of Riverside Cemetery on Sunday, May 21st, from 10:00 am
to 11:30 am. Historian Ray Thal will be your guide with entertaining stories.
5210 Brighton Boulevard  •  Denver, CO 80216
https://fairmountfuneralhome.com/riverside-cemetery/

Veterans stand together at Riverside Cemetery

New entrance to Riverside Cemetery