House Joint Resolution 25-1017

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1017

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Feret and Keltie, Camacho, Carter, Armagost, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brown, Caldwell, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Lieder, Lukens, Mabrey, Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rydin, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Bird, Brooks, DeGraaf, English, Garcia, Lindsay, Lindstedt, Luck, Martinez, Phillips, Rutinel, Sirota, Suckla, Willford;

also SENATOR(S) Carson and Roberts, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bridges, Bright, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jaquez Lewis, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Liston, Lundeen, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman.

CONCERNING HONORING THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION OF COLORADO.

WHEREAS, Tucked in a high mountain valley south of Minturn in Eagle County, Colorado, Camp Hale was the home base for the renowned World War II 10th Mountain Division, an elite U.S. Army mountain warfare unit; and

WHEREAS, Comprised of thousands of troops who trained intensely to acquire rock climbing, skiing, and other vital mountaineering skills necessary to battle within harsh high-altitude winter conditions, Camp Hale served as a specialized military training site to prepare soldiers for combat against European Axis forces in mountainous and arctic conditions during World War II; and

WHEREAS, The severe winters and rugged terrain at Camp Hale helped prepare the 10th Mountain Division's skiing soldiers for their brave battles in the northern Italian Alps and Apennines, including a particular battle in February 1945 when thousands of 10th Mountain Division soldiers silently scaled the steep Riva Ridge in Italy and prevented Germans from using the precipice to survey U.S. forces below and then, the next day, they joined a successful assault on Mount Belvedere, an Axis stronghold, during which hundreds of 10th Mountain Division soldiers perished; and

WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers fought tirelessly in Italy and central Europe until Germany's final surrender in 1945 and then returned to the United States, where the division was demobilized and inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Camp Carson, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at Camp Hale during World War II not only distinguished themselves internationally for their bravery but also brought worldwide attention to Colorado's unique climate and geography for specialized military training; and

WHEREAS, While the 10th Mountain Division has changed in its purpose to reflect the unique military needs of our country following World War II, the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division deserves protection and tribute; we, the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, recognize the hard work and remarkable bravery needed to protect the United States and its beleaguered World War II Allies from enemy forces; and

WHEREAS, Many veterans of the 10th Mountain Division dedicated the rest of their lives to the conservation of Camp Hale and the Tenmile Range area after World War II, creating the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. The association works to preserve 30 huts, which allow visitors to experience the land and conditions as the 10th Mountain Division did over 80 years ago; and

WHEREAS, In a historic act that speaks to the 10th Mountain Division's valuable role in American history, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. used his powers granted pursuant to the federal Antiquities Act for the first time during his administration to declare Camp Hale the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument on October 12, 2022, thereby protecting both the natural environment and the state heritage interwoven with the area; and

WHEREAS, President Biden's proclamation of Camp Hale as a national monument ensures the preservation of the veterans' post-war effort and the memory of their heroic actions; thanks to the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, visitors can now ski a mile in the division's shoes and enjoy the training facilities recreationally; and

WHEREAS, The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument will serve as a reminder of the 10th Mountain Division and their sacrifice for generations to come; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby memorialize the 10th Mountain Division and declare our appreciation for the newly designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, the 10th Mountain Division at U.S. Army Fort Drum, the Colorado Snowsports Museum, the Eagle County Board of Commissioners, the Summit County Board of Commissioners, the Lake County Board of Commissioners, Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, Representative Joe Neguse, and Representative Brittany Pettersen.