News Release - Captain Kuss Memorial Events

Arrangements have been made for memorial events in Durango to honor our hometown hero and Blue Angel Captain Jeff Kuss.  There are two opportunities for our community to participate and show support to his family and our military.

At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, the private motorcade of family and friends will start the procession from 32^nd Street south down Main Avenue to Greenmount Cemetery.  The public has been asked by the family to line the motorcade route along Main Avenue from 32^nd Street to College Drive to show support to the family and honor his military service.  Participants are encouraged to wave flags and blue and yellow ribbons or stand at attention.

The family has asked that the motorcade only be comprised of friends and family who have been invited to the private service at Greenmount Cemetery.  The Cemetery will be closed to the public during the service (noon – 1:00 p.m.), but the public may still hear the 21-gun salute from town and see Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 fly over Durango in the Missing Man formation.

Friends and family are invited to attend a reception from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Fort Lewis College Student Union Building, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango to begin the healing process as a community.

Road Closures:

·         The westbound lane on County Road 251 (between 32^nd Street and County Road 250) will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 for staging for the private motorcade. The eastbound lane to (County Road 250) will remain open. 

·         Rolling road closures will begin at 11:00 a.m. as the motorcade proceeds from 32^nd Street to Main Avenue south to College Drive.  Side streets and southbound traffic will be stopped to allow the motorcade to travel south along Main Avenue.  From College Drive, the motorcade will turn right and travel north on Camino del Rio to 9^th Street, where they will go left and proceed to Greenmount Cemetery.

·         Northbound traffic will be stopped at the intersection of Camino del Rio (Highway 550) and College Drive and again at the intersection of Camino del Rio and Main Avenue to allow the motorcade to pass.

·         Southbound traffic will be stopped at 9^th Street and Camino del Rio (Highway 550) to allow the motorcade to pass.

The City of Durango Police Department, La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Fort Lewis College Police Department and Farmington (New Mexico) Police Department will assist with the rolling road closures and escorting the motorcade.