Thank You to Berthoud Community

On behalf of the Berthoud Fire Protection District, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the following agencies that assisted in escorting the body of Staff Sgt. Justin Lynn Bauer: the Loveland Police Department, Loveland Fire/Rescue Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Department, Colorado State Patrol, Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services, Boulder County Sheriff’s Department, Longmont Police Department, Longmont Emergency Unit, Berthoud Police Department and the Patriot Guard. The procession traveled more than 10 miles from the Lifebridge Christian Church of Longmont to the Berthoud Greenlawn Cemetery. The procession traveled through city streets, in both the City of Longmont and the Town of Berthoud, on county roads and along U.S. Highway 287; hundreds of people, to include military personnel standing at attention saluting, stood to pay their last respects to a fallen hero.
 
I was deeply moved by the scores of people who stopped their vehicles along the procession route and stood with their right hand over their heart or waving an American flag. As we passed Mountain States Children’s Home both children and staff stood paying tribute to Staff Sgt. Bauer. As we drove past Berthoud High School, where Staff Sgt. Bauer graduated in 2002, I was touched by the students and staff that lined both sides of Spartan Avenue to pay their respects to a former wrestler and football player. The students and staff of Ivy Stockwell stood along Eighth St. with their right hand over their hearts and waving American flags for a patriot who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I am so proud of our community who turned out in the hundreds, standing along the highway, county roads and city streets, to pay tribute to a loved one, a friend, a brother firefighter, a comrade in arms and a young man who gave his life serving our nation.
 
I want to express my sincere appreciation to L & M Enterprises for providing a location to hold the reception, to the Berthoud Athletic Booster Club for providing the reception meal, deserts and refreshments, to Robin Event Center for linens, Bagpiper John Berquist and White Dove Release Company.
 
In closing, words can’t begin to express my gratitude to our community who by the hundreds not only showed their patriotism, but their love for a fallen hero and their compassion for those who are suffering the loss of Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer.   
 
Respectfully,

Stephen Charles, Chief
Berthoud Fire Protection District