House Joint Resolution 25-1017
Page 1, Line 101Concerning honoring the 10th Mountain Division of
Page 1, Line 102Colorado.
Page 1, Line 1WHEREAS, Tucked in a high mountain valley south of Minturn
Page 1, Line 2in Eagle County, Colorado, Camp Hale was the home base for the
Page 1, Line 3renowned World War II 10th Mountain Division, an elite U.S. Army mountain warfare unit; and
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Page 1, Line 5WHEREAS, Comprised of thousands of troops who trained
Page 1, Line 6intensely to acquire rock climbing, skiing, and other vital mountaineering
Page 1, Line 7skills necessary to battle within harsh high-altitude winter conditions,
Page 1, Line 8Camp Hale served as a specialized military training site to prepare
Page 1, Line 9soldiers for combat against European Axis forces in mountainous and arctic conditions during World War II; and
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Page 2, Line 1WHEREAS, The severe winters and rugged terrain at Camp Hale
Page 2, Line 2helped prepare the 10th Mountain Division's skiing soldiers for their
Page 2, Line 3brave battles in the northern Italian Alps and Apennines, including a
Page 2, Line 4particular battle in February 1945 when thousands of 10th Mountain
Page 2, Line 5Division soldiers silently scaled the steep Riva Ridge in Italy and
Page 2, Line 6prevented Germans from using the precipice to survey U.S. forces below
Page 2, Line 7and then, the next day, they joined a successful assault on Mount
Page 2, Line 8Belvedere, an Axis stronghold, during which hundreds of 10th Mountain Division soldiers perished; and
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Page 2, Line 10WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers fought tirelessly
Page 2, Line 11in Italy and central Europe until Germany's final surrender in 1945 and
Page 2, Line 12then returned to the United States, where the division was demobilized and inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Camp Carson, Colorado; and
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Page 2, Line 14WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at
Page 2, Line 15Camp Hale during World War II not only distinguished themselves
Page 2, Line 16internationally for their bravery but also brought worldwide attention to
Page 2, Line 17Colorado's unique climate and geography for specialized military training; and
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Page 2, Line 19WHEREAS, While the 10th Mountain Division has changed in its
Page 2, Line 20purpose to reflect the unique military needs of our country following
Page 2, Line 21World War II, the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division deserves
Page 2, Line 22protection and tribute; we, the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, recognize
Page 2, Line 23the hard work and remarkable bravery needed to protect the United States and its beleaguered World War II Allies from enemy forces; and
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Page 2, Line 25WHEREAS, Many veterans of the 10th Mountain Division
Page 2, Line 26dedicated the rest of their lives to the conservation of Camp Hale and the
Page 2, Line 27Tenmile Range area after World War II, creating the 10th Mountain
Page 2, Line 28Division Hut Association. The association works to preserve 30 huts,
Page 2, Line 29which allow visitors to experience the land and conditions as the 10th Mountain Division did over 80 years ago; and
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Page 2, Line 31WHEREAS, In a historic act that speaks to the 10th Mountain
Page 2, Line 32Division's valuable role in American history, President Joseph R. Biden,
Page 2, Line 33Jr. used his powers granted pursuant to the federal Antiquities Act for the
Page 2, Line 34first time during his administration to declare Camp Hale the Camp
Page 2, Line 35Hale-Continental Divide National Monument on October 12, 2022,
Page 2, Line 36thereby protecting both the natural environment and the state heritage
Page 2, Line 37interwoven with the area; and
Page 3, Line 1WHEREAS, President Biden's proclamation of Camp Hale as a
Page 3, Line 2national monument ensures the preservation of the veterans' post-war
Page 3, Line 3effort and the memory of their heroic actions; thanks to the 10th
Page 3, Line 4Mountain Division Hut Association, visitors can now ski a mile in the division's shoes and enjoy the training facilities recreationally; and
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Page 3, Line 6WHEREAS, The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National
Page 3, Line 7Monument will serve as a reminder of the 10th Mountain Division and their sacrifice for generations to come; now, therefore,
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Page 3, Line 9Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
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Page 3, Line 11That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby
Page 3, Line 12memorialize the 10th Mountain Division and declare our appreciation for
Page 3, Line 13the newly designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.
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Page 3, Line 15Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent
Page 3, Line 16to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, the 10th Mountain Division
Page 3, Line 17Hut Association, the 10th Mountain Division at U.S. Army Fort Drum,
Page 3, Line 18the Colorado Snowsports Museum, the Eagle County Board of
Page 3, Line 19Commissioners, the Summit County Board of Commissioners, the Lake
Page 3, Line 20County Board of Commissioners, Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John
Page 3, Line 21Hickenlooper, Representative Joe Neguse, and Representative Brittany Pettersen.