Flag flies high in honor of fallen Navy SEAL

James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 29, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Local News

The American flag hung motionless in the hazy, breezeless sky, a solemn red-white-and-blue reminder of the man who had sacrificed his life for it two years ago to the day.

For the tourists who took photos and the strolling locals who paid no attention to them, it was a sleepy-quiet morning on the west steps of the state Capitol; even the traffic below seemed more lulling than clamorous.

But for Cindy Dietz it was "a very hard day." On June 28, 2005, her son, Navy SEAL Danny P. Dietz, was killed on a mission in Afghanistan. On June 28, 2007, a star-spangled banner that had once flown over Bagram Airfield — Dietz’s base — in that faraway Asian land was hoisted up a 35-foot flagpole that sat on a hill not very far from the Littleton neighborhood where he was born and raised.

Moments before Colorado State Trooper Mike Garcia raised the flag, Dietz had said softly, "I’m honored. It’s so special to me that this flag was flying over Danny’s base. And now it’s flying in his home state."

Later, Dietz would overcome her sadness. Summoning up composure and grace, she would stand before the media and say, "Two years ago, my oldest son was killed in Afghanistan." A soft hesitation, then, "I don’t know what else to say other than we love him."

Joining her for the occasion were Danny’s brother, Eric Dietz, and his grandmother, Dolores Gilmer, along with a smattering of public officials.

Among those officials was State Sen. Steve Ward, who not only represents the Dietz’s district, but who, as a Marine Corps colonel, was stationed at Bagram for two years himself. It was Ward who obtained the flag for the Dietz family.

"He was a brave man who died tragically and heroically," said Ward, alluding to Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny Dietz being posthumously awarded the Navy Cross — the nation’s second highest military honor — for his bravery in the face of fierce combat.

The same flag that honored Danny Dietz will be used Wednesday at the July 4th dedication ceremony of a statue of him that will be held in Littleton’s Berry Park extension. But Littleton Police Chief Heather Coogan wasn’t thinking a week ahead as she watched the ceremony.

"This demonstrates that we have so many fine young people who have such a strong sense of duty, honor and patriotism," said Coogan. "Being here to watch this just feels absolutely right."

After a long minute, Garcia slowly began lowering the limp flag. But halfway down, a quicksilver breath of wind caught it.

And suddenly, for several blinks of the eye, there it was, spread against the sky: a three-foot-by-five-foot, red-white-and-blue piece of cloth that represented something for which a Colorado warrior was willing to give his life.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News