Colorado Flies Front Line Flag, Honors Fallen SEAL Danny Dietz

Javier Manzano
Eric Dietz, 21, and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Lyly Nguyen, hold an American Flag given to them after a ceremony held for his brother, Navy SEAL Danny Dietz. A flag presentation for the family of Danny Dietz who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005, was held on the west steps of the state Capitol today. Dietz, 25, died while conducting counterterrorism operations in Kunar Province. The flag, which will eventually fly over Dietz's memorial in Littleton, flew over Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, at the same time Dietz was serving in Afghanistan.

In anticipation of the dedication of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz' memorial next week on July 4, the state of Colorado paid quiet tribute to this hero (video):

Two years to the day after Danny Dietz gave his life for his country, his state paid quiet homage to his memory and sacrifice.

In front of the west steps of the state Capitol, an American flag that had flown over Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan — where the Navy SEAL was stationed — was raised up a flagpole by Colorado State Trooper Mike Garcia as members of Dietz's family and a smattering of officials looked on.

"I'm honored," said Cindy Dietz, mother of the Littleton man who was killed during a mission in Afghanistan and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. "It's so special to me that this flag was flying over Danny's base at maybe the same time he was there. And now it's flying in his home state."

Joined by Danny's brother, Eric Dietz, and his grandmother, Dolores Gilmer, Cindy Dietz helped Garcia fold the flag once it had hung on the flagpole for about a moment.

The same flag will be used on July 4th when a statue of Dietz is dedicated in Littleton.

Slapstick will have coverage of the unveiling of the statue next week.

Previously:
Colorado Statue Honoring Fallen Navy SEAL Opposed, "Glorifies Violence"