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New local West Point grad to speak at Memorial Day service
McCOOK, Neb. —The McCook American Legion Post 203 will hold its annual Memorial Day services on Monday, May 27 starting at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial Monument located in the north section of Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook.
This year’s guest speaker will be 2nd Lt. Colton Craig of McCook, who is to be commissioned upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday. Lt. Craig is believed to be the only West Point graduate from McCook.
Memorial Day, traditionally seen as the unofficial start of summer, is a time to honor and remember the sacrifices of America’s military personnel who have died in service to the nation. The observance, which often includes the decoration of veterans’ and family graves, originated as “Decoration Day.”
The public is encouraged to attend the brief yet poignant service.
Colton Jon Craig was born on Oct. 24, 2001, in La Junta, Colo., and moved to Nebraska with his family in 2005. He began his education in McCook, graduating from McCook High School in 2020. Inspired to serve, Craig worked diligently to secure three Congressional nominations to West Point and one to the U.S. Naval Academy. He was officially appointed to represent Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District at West Point on Feb. 11, 2020.
Craig’s journey at West Point began in June 2020. During his time there, he participated in six Sandhurst Military Skills Competitions, both domestic and international. He also completed Cadet Troop Leadership Training at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division and attended the Army’s Sabalauski Air Assault School during his sophomore year, known at West Point as Yuk year.
Graduating on May 25, 2024, with a degree in Organizational Psychology, Lt. Craig has chosen to branch Infantry with the 10th Mountain Division.
He will report to Fort Moore on July 23 to begin the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course and subsequently attend Ranger school before being stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y.
The McCook community is invited to join in honoring those who have given their lives in service to the country and to support one of their own who is embarking on his military career.