A Legacy of Storytelling: The Partnership Between Pueblo Star Journal and Remembering
By Gregory Howell, Pueblo Star Journal
For generations, Pueblo Star Journal has served as the voice of our city—a beacon of storytelling, historical documentation, and community engagement. Since the late 1800s, we have witnessed and chronicled Pueblo’s triumphs and tragedies, from its rise as an industrial powerhouse to the devastating 1921 flood that reshaped its landscape.
Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our city’s history. As we stand on the threshold of a new era of remembrance, Pueblo Star Journal is proud to announce a strategic alliance with Remembering—an interfaith, interactive memorial dedicated to honoring the forgotten and embracing ancestral healing.
This partnership is more than just an extension of our storytelling mission—it is a responsibility to ensure that Pueblo’s diverse history is acknowledged, preserved, and honored for generations to come.
A Shared Mission of Remembrance
The Remembering project is rooted in Pueblo’s history and the experiences of those who built this city—often at great cost and sacrifice. The memorial pays tribute to those lost in the Eden Train Wreck of 1904, the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, and the Great Pueblo Flood of 1921. Each of these tragedies left a deep impact on the community, yet the stories of many victims have faded into obscurity.
At Pueblo Star Journal, we have long believed that the past is not meant to be buried but to be learned from, shared, and used to shape our future. Through investigative reporting, historical archives, and community-driven storytelling, we aim to shed light on forgotten histories—making Remembering a natural extension of our commitment to the people of Pueblo.
The Power of Storytelling in Community Healing
Storytelling is at the heart of Remembering. As a living memorial, the project seeks to integrate history with interactive engagement, ensuring that it is not merely a place of stillness but of dialogue, connection, and shared memory.
At Pueblo Star Journal, our role in this partnership is clear:
Documenting the Journey – We will follow the evolution of the memorial, from concept to completion, ensuring that every milestone is recorded and shared with the community.
Sharing Personal Histories – Through interviews, community spotlights, and archival research, we will bring forward the personal stories of those impacted by the events Remembering honors.
Encouraging Community Engagement – Through print, digital, and multimedia formats, we will create avenues for Pueblo residents to engage with the memorial, share their own histories, and participate in interactive remembrance activities.
This is not just about looking back—it’s about using the past to create a better, more connected present.
Why Remembering Matters to Pueblo
For decades, Pueblo has been a city shaped by resilience. From its industrial foundations to its artistic renaissance, it has always been a place where people forge their own paths while honoring those who came before them. But remembrance has not always been equitable. Many who contributed to the city’s development—especially Indigenous peoples, migrant workers, and marginalized communities—remain unacknowledged in historical records.
Remembering seeks to correct this imbalance. It is not just a memorial but a catalyst for community healing, a space where grief and history can be acknowledged, discussed, and transformed into understanding and unity.
The Sky Bed, the memorial’s sculptural centerpiece, offers a unique experience. Visitors are invited to lie down and gaze at the sky, engaging in a moment of reflection that is both deeply personal and universally human. The surrounding steel monoliths, representing the four directions, serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. Swallows—symbols of hope and renewal—will also feature prominently, guiding the spirit of remembrance forward.
This is a place where history is not just learned but felt.
Our Role as a Community Partner
The Pueblo Star Journal is not just reporting on Remembering—we are an active participant in its success. Our role in this strategic alliance includes:
Educational Outreach – We will produce in-depth articles, historical retrospectives, and multimedia content that provide context for the memorial and its significance.
Community Conversations – Through op-eds, interviews, and special features, we will create spaces for discussion about ancestral grief, cultural remembrance, and the importance of collective healing.
Event Coverage & Promotion – From the groundbreaking ceremony to the Say Their Names, Fly with the Swallows festival, we will be there to document and share the journey with our readers.
Digital Storytelling & Interactive Platforms – We are exploring digital formats, including video storytelling and interactive timelines, to make Remembering accessible to broader audiences.
We see this as an opportunity to expand what a local news organization can do—not just reporting on history, but actively shaping how it is remembered and honored.
A Call to the Community: Get Involved
The success of Remembering depends not just on its founders or partners, but on the people of Pueblo. This is a community-driven project, and we encourage everyone to take part in its evolution.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Share Your Story – If your family has a connection to the events Remembering honors, reach out to us. We want to document and amplify these stories.
Contribute to the Memorial – Donations, both financial and material, will help bring Remembering to life. We will be sharing more about fundraising efforts in the coming weeks.
Attend Upcoming Events – Whether it’s a discussion, a workshop, or a community gathering, your presence is invaluable.
Follow the Journey – Stay connected with us through Pueblo Star Journal, where we will be posting regular updates and stories on the progress of Remembering.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning. As Remembering moves forward—from finalizing fiscal sponsorships to securing material donations and completing its installation—the Pueblo Star Journal will be there every step of the way.
We see this partnership as an extension of our historic mission, one that reflects Pueblo’s enduring spirit. We are not just observers of history; we are its keepers, its storytellers, and its advocates.
Together, let’s ensure that the voices of the past are not forgotten but honored, understood, and carried forward into the future.
Stay with us as we document this extraordinary journey. Remembering is more than a memorial—it is a movement, and it belongs to all of us.
