PHOTOS: On Veterans Day, retired Air Force Major Gary “Bear” Sholders honored in Westminster

Memorial services were held for retired Air Force Major Gary “Bear” Sholders at the Armed Forces Tribute Garden in Westminster, Colorado, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2024. Sholders died on October 26th, 2024 at the age of 80.

“He was a highly decorated fighter jet pilot who fought to the end,” said his son Trevor Sholders. During his 20 years of service, Sholders was awarded the Silver Star, for gallantry in action against the enemy, and the Distinguished Flying Cross, an honor bestowed for extraordinary achievement of heroism during aerial flight.

Sholders was an F-4 Phantom pilot in Vietnam. He battled cancer for 8 years which family members said is thought to have come from his exposure to Agent Orange during the conflict. He flew 100+ missions over enemy territory and a total of 210 missions in his 15 months of duty in Vietnam from 1972 to 1973.

During the memorial service, which took place under bluebird skies and warm temperatures, the pilot was given a firing of three volleys from the Air and Space Force base Honor Guard from Buckley Air Force Base. An F-16 from the 120th Fighter Squadron made a fly-over at the end of the service and an American flag was presented to his wife Suzi. The couple were married for 57 years.