Dosquebradas institutionalizes Veteran Week to honor public forces

The municipality of Dosquebradas, Risaralda, has launched its first Veteran Week to honor more than 80 veterans of the Military and Police Forces. This initiative was established through Municipal Agreement 010 of 2026, which institutionalizes an annual commemoration and creates the ‘Order of Merit for the Public Force Veteran, Honor, Service, and Gratitude’.

The program includes tributes, historical memory activities, and community service projects, such as the recovery of La Moneda Park. During the opening ceremony led by Mayor Roberto Jiménez Naranjo, veterans were recognized alongside their families and public force commanders. One notable tribute was paid to First Sergeant Orlando Osorio Salazar, the most senior veteran present in the municipality.

According to Council President Humberto García Morales and Councilman Ricardo Zuluaga Cuervo, the initiative aims to foster a culture of respect and gratitude toward those who have contributed to national security and institutional defense. The commemorations, held annually around October 10, include moments of silence for deceased veterans and public recognition for living service members.