More than 155 years after the Civil War ended, The Retired and Enlisted Association (TREA) joined forces with the family to honor Union Army soldier Warren Castle Dockum on Oct. 29 during a special dedication ceremony at Roselawn Cemetery.

The idea began when members of TREA noticed his gravestone amongst dirt and weeds at Roselawn Cemetery. The members felt the Medal of Honor deserved a better setting so they installed two giant flagpoles with solar lights, restored the headstone and a plaque with Dockum's correct date of birth.

After a flyover and missing man formation, Col. John Saenz welcomed the Dockum family to the ceremony.

“If (Warren) wasn't a Puebloan by birth, he certainly was by choice,” he said. “There's so many things that connect him to Pueblo that make him important to this community.”

Saenz noted he hoped there would be more events to continue recognizing Dockum in the upcoming months.

“Mr. Dockum, like so many veterans before him, served for the Constitution and everything that is implied in that,” he said. “When Americans went to war in World War I and World II, Korea, Vietnam and the wars in the Middle East, they take the Constitution with them. They take who we are as a people with them.”

“They didn't actually take the Constitution with them or the Declaration of Independence, Saenz said.

“But that is what they stood for; that's how the American experience is different than other countries,” he noted. “Other countries fight for treasure, for property and we fight for ideas. We fight for human freedom. I would suggest to you that's what Mr. Dockum did as well. When he and three other folks ran away from home to join the Union Army, the army to keep this country together, he was there to preserve the Union and he was there to fight for freedom. He had a distinguished career.”

Dockum fought in two of the worst battles of the Civil War in North America, but stuck it out and stayed in spite of adversity, Saenz added. He was in Petersburg toward the end of the war, as well as Sailor's Creek.

When Robert E. Lee understood he was outnumbered and running out of food, he decided to vacate Richmond. Dockum was there, he continued.

“(Dockum) followed him; Lee tried to get out. (Dockum) was there at Sailor's Creek and I think he was there at Five Forks too,” Saenz said. “It was the last two battles of the Civil War in close proximally within 24 hours of each other when Robert E. Lee (tried to escape). That's how the Union was saved and Warren Dockum was there. (He and his two buddies helped to) preserve the Union and free enslaved people. He put unity over discord. He put human dignity and common decency over discouraging people. That's what Dockum stood for. That's the American spirit. That's what we do. We treat each other as brothers and sisters in a common cause, united by the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.”

Dockum also captured the Confederate flag at Sailor's Creek, as well. His life after the military is as equally important.

After the war, Dockum served as a postmaster. His wife died in 1893 and he moved to Colorado, living in Turkey Creek east of Colorado Springs. A year later, he had his wife moved to Colorado next to their son. In addition, Dockum served as a judge, ran a ranch and was involved in community activities. On Oct. 2, 1921, Warren C. Dockum died at the age of 77. He is buried in Roselawn Cemetery along with his wife, Sara and his son, Herbert.

During the ceremony, Rep. Lauren Boebert also spoke.

“It's an honor to be with you in Pueblo, the Home of Heroes,” she said. “We're here today as Americans because we love these United States and we know without a doubt that it is 'divided we fall.' That's why so many men and women have pledged their sacred honor to you, to me, to one another to fight for unity, to fight for freedom, to liberate captives throughout the world. These brave men and women to strive publically to honor our constitution, to bring peace, to bring unity. It's such an honor to recognize Warren C. Dockum, to be here with his family, with many generations.

“Often we hear of these heroes who are no longer recipients and we think of the day that they received the Medal of Honor. But for them, it was often the worst day of their life, the worst day of battle, but they overcame and they survived, they persevered and defended our country. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society says the Medal of Honor is the United States highest award for military valor and action. While over 150 years have passed this inception, the meaning behind the medal has never been tarnished. Etched within are the very values that each recipient displayed in the moment that mattered, bravely, courage, sacrifice, integrity, a deep love of country and a desire to always do what is right. A distinguished award that is presented to only those who are worthy. The medal tells a story of its own. It's fought by patriots who paid the ultimate price. From the Revolutionary War to today, many sons and daughters of America have volunteered to protect you and I, to secure our freedom, to defend our right. The Bible tells us 'there is no great love than to lay down one's life for another.' Warren C. Dockum did that and today, we honor his life, legacy and sacrifice.”

During the ceremony, there were presentation of flags to the ancestors of Dockum, a 21-gun salute, two proclamations, declaring Oct. 29, 2022, as Warren C. Dockum day by the City of Pueblo and Pueblo County.