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Colorado Springs honors Donald Stratton

Posted at 5:53 AM, Feb 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-01 11:49:33-05

COLORADO SPRINGS — A USS Arizona crew member and Pearl Harbor survivor will be honored through a memorial service in Colorado Springs Saturday morning. The memorial service is open to the public and begins at 10 a.m.

If you are unable to attend you can watch the service online through a livestream from the church.

Donald Stratton called Colorado Springs home for years, his contributions to the United States received accolades across the nation. Stratton detailed his service in his book "All the Gallant Men".

Organizers for the service are anticipating and a large crowd, and are encouraging anyone who wants to attend the service to park at Doherty High School and take shuttles which will leave about every 10 minutes.

Those who attend the service are encouraged to wear red, white and blue; Hawaiian print shirts, or military uniforms in honor of Stratton and his USS Arizona shipmates.

After the service a Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) motorcade will escort the casket and family procession on Interstate 25 to the city limits at Baptist Road.

The procession will continue en route to Red Cloud, Nebraska, Stratton's hometown where he will be laid to rest with patriotic honors planned along the route.

Those who wish to line the route with signs and flags are reminded not to stop on the Interstate, to find a location that is safe for themselves as well as others, and to not impede the procession.

The route and approximate timeline are as follows:

  • 12:15 p – 12:30 p Depart: Rocky Mountain Calvary, 4285 N Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs
  • 12:25 p – 12:40 p Academy Blvd onto Austin Bluffs Pkwy
  • Austin Bluffs Pkwy onto I-25 NB at Garden of the Gods Rd.
  • 12:30 p – 12:45 p NB I-25 at Monument Hill
  • 12:40 p – 12:55 p NB I-25 at Tomah Rd
  • 12:45 p – 1:00 p NB I-25 at Castle Pines
  • 12:55 p – 1:10 p NB I-25 at 470
  • 1:00 p – 1:15 p NB I-25 onto NB 225
  • 1:10 p – 1:25 p NB 225 onto EB I-70
  • 1:20 p – 1:35 p EB I-70 at Watkins
  • 1:25 p – 1:40 p EB I-70 at Bennett
  • 1:30 p - 1:45 p EB I-70 at Strasburg
  • 1:35 p - 1:50 p EB I-70 at Byers
  • 1:45 p - 2:00 p EB I-70 at Deer Trail
  • 1:55 p - 2:10 p EB I-70 at Agate
  • 2:10 p - 2:25 p EB I-70 at Limon
  • 20 minute stop for gas/break, Flying J 2495 Williams Ave Limon 80828
  • 2:35 p - 2:50 p EB I-70 at Genoa
  • 2:45 p - 3:00 p EB I-70 at Arriba
  • 2:55 p - 3:10 p EB I-70 at Siebert
  • 3:05 p - 3:20 p EB I-70 at Stratton
  • 3:20 p - 3:35 p EB I-70 at Burlington
  • 3:30 p –3:45 p EB I-70 at Colorado/Kansas State Line
  • Time changes to Central Time
  • 5:00 p – 5:15 p EB I-70 at Brewster
  • 5:15 p – 5:30 p EB I-70 at Highway 216 (Grinnell)
  • 5:40 p – 5:55 p EB I-70 at Quinter
  • 6:00 p – 6:15 p EB I-70 at Wakeeney
  • 20 minute stop for gas/break, Wakeeney Travel Plaza 24-7 Store 745 S 1st St Wakeeney KS 67672
  • 6:40 p – 6:55 p EB I-70 at Ellis
  • 6:50 p – 7:05 p EB I-70 onto NB 183
  • 7:00 p – 7:15 p NB 183 at Buckeye
  • 7:15 p – 7:30 p NB 183 at Plainville
  • 7:30 p – 7:45 p NB 183 at Highway 24
  • 7:50 p – 8:05 p NB 183 onto EB Highway 36 (Philipsburg)
  • 8:20 p – 8:35 p EB 36 at Smith Center
  • 8:30 p – 8:45 p EB 36 onto NB 281
  • 8:45 p – 9:00 p NB 281 at Kansas/Nebraska State Line
  • 8:55 p – 9:05 p NB 281 onto WB 4th Ave to:
  • Williams Funeral Home, 241 W Fourth Ave, Red Cloud, Nebraska

News5 will have full coverage of Saturday's service as well as the honors for Stratton over the coming days.