Can't think of a better thing to do

The perfect opportunity to say thank you to veterans

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com

Originating as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans — living or dead — but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

Locally, and individually, we all have our own heroes. Bill Crawford, Jim Newbrough, and a host of other local guys that served in the various branches. Today, it is estimated that nearly 100,000 veterans live here in El Paso County and about 40,000 active duty.

We have roads named, William Crawford Highway (105) through Monument. We have the recent memorial built (mostly by local vets) on the edge of town in Palmer Lake that will be dedicated this next weekend.

Crawford was born in 1918, and from Pueblo, Colorado, and later joined the U.S. Army from that city in July 1942. By September 13, 1943, he was serving as a private with the 142nd Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division in southern Italy. On that day, he was acting as a squad scout when his company attacked Hill 424 near Altavilla Silentina. During the battle, Crawford twice moved forward through continuous fire and, using hand grenades and his rifle, destroyed machine gun nests which were holding back his platoon's advance.

After the battle, Crawford was captured by the Germans and presumed dead. So in 1944 the Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to his father. Later in the year, Crawford was among a group of soldiers rescued from German captivity.

On January 13, 1946, he married Eileen Bruce. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1947, retired in 1967 with the rank of master sergeant. He later worked as a janitor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and as director of the Lucretia Vaille Museum in Palmer Lake.

While working at the Air Force Academy, he mentioned to friends that he had never received the Medal from the president. In 1984, during that year's graduation ceremony, President Ronald Reagan formally presented him with the Medal.

Crawford died at age 81 on March 15, 2000, in his residence at Palmer Lake. Upon his death Governor Bill Owens authorized all Colorado flags to be lowered to half staff in his honor. He is buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, the only non-USAF, US Army enlisted person buried there. He is one of four Medal of Honor recipients from Pueblo, Colorado, the others being Drew Dennis Dix, Raymond G. Murphy, and Carl L. Sitter.

Jim Newbrough, the great grandson of David McShane, a Monument pioneer who built a fort on the edge of town in the 1860s. Newbrough was awarded the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for his heroics in the Mundi Air Strip Battle during World War II. He single-handedly manned a machine gun nest at that Pacific outpost and is credited with saving the battalion that day.

“As the fight progressed, Newbrough, alone on the gun, kept it going constantly,” said Yank Magazine in December of 1943. “Nobody, not even he, knows how many belts of ammunition he expended. As the gun continued to fire, it attracted more and more attention until it seemed that Newbrough was the only target. Bullets spattered onto everything, cutting down the shelter, half on top of him and clearing the underbrush from around him.”

Next week, a number of celebrations, tributes and events thank Veterans for their service. I can’t think of a better thing to do.

Remembering local veteran's efforts on Memorial Day

Tennessee Williams wrote, “Life is all memory, except for one present moment that goes by so quick you hardly catch it going.”

With Memorial Day right around the corner, it is appropriate we pay tribute. 

The recent renovation of the Veteran's Hall in Woodland Park ceremony this last week, local Veteran's organizations efforts and volunteers from all over the country call particular attention to the last Monday in May, and throughout the years in perpetuity, for those who served.

"What today is known as Veterans Hall was originally built in 1935 by the Manitou Park Grange.  Located just north of the Shining Mountain golf course the building has been used by various community groups for meetings and various activities.  2001 the building was purchased by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6051 of Woodland Park with the stipulation that the memorabilia left by the Grange remain so that if they wished to use the facility again they could.  The facility is now used by both the VFW and American Legion Post 1980 of Woodland Park," says Larry Ingram, of the American Legion Post 1980.

 "In 2015 a grant was received from the Home Depot Foundation for the renovation of the facility.  This grant not only funded the lumber, paint, sheetrock, wiring and fixtures necessary modernize the facility, but also organized volunteers that are employees of Home Depot and their vendors to do the work.  The renovation was coordinated by D.M.I Builders contracting company.  Over 170 volunteers worked on the renovation which began April 11, and was completed May 11, when a dedication ceremony was held by the VFW and American Legion Post 1980," Ingram said.

Andy Tyler, Post Commander for VFW Post 6051, was visibly proud of all they had been able to to accomplish recently, the last few weeks, and over the last year, in efforts to secure funding and make the project a reality. As he showed me around the facility Wednesday, he pointed out new paint, exterior flower boxes, interior walls, restored bathrooms, tools, and equipment and even a house-warming gift of a combination smoker/barbecue presented by Team Depot, the Home Depot crew.

Gabe Sneller, Team Depot-Western Division Manager, was gracious on his own, thanking the Veteran group's members and leadership in pulling the project together, as well as for their service to the country. 

"The Thomas E. Kelly VFW Post 6051 was originally located off U.S. Highway 24 on Bluebird Hill where the Pikes Peak Regional Hospital now stands. After the post sold its property there, it purchased the Grange hall and the land from the Phillips family, who were caretakers of the Grange hall after the chapter closed down and had been sitting vacant for approximately 10 years," wrote Tyler, in a preparation of the building history.

"It was stipulated in the mortgage agreement to retain all the Grange items in the event that the local Grange #430 stood back up. The VFW and the American Legion are now the caretakers of the many historical items found in the building that show the growth of Woodland Park over the years," Tyler says.

"The hall has been renamed the Veterans Hall, as it now supports both the local VFW and American Legion Posts. It also provides a meeting place for other organizations within the Woodland Park community," he said. 

"In 2002, the Veterans Hall was a staging area for fire crews battling the Hayman Fire which burned 133 homes, 138,114 acres, and forced the evacuation 5,300 people."

The local VFW post, and Legion organization collectively provides color guards throughout the year at area events and encompasses about 50 local members in the VFW, and about 130 in the American Legion Post, Tyler said. It assists local homeless veterans through the Aspen Mine Center, provides scholarship opportunities through Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen programs, conducts Memorial Day activities.

According to usmemorialday.org, “Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.”

Memories, of course can divide as much as they bring together. But coming together and sharing the struggle was eventually possible.

“The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I...

It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act, P.L. 90-363, in 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays.)”

We can all take to heart in the collective memory, contributions, and recent  accomplishments, of area veterans and volunteers as we pause in tribute this upcoming Memorial Day.

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Photo Information: 

Photo 1:
Andy Tyler, VFW Post Commander,  provided the short tour of all the improvements achieved in the last few months at the renovated Veterans Hall. 
Photo by Rob Carrigan.

Photo 2:
Kevin Manning, VFW Chaplain, models the smoker barbecue grill gifted to Veterans Hall by Team Depot as a housewarming present. 
Photo by Rob Carrigan.

Photo 3:
Volunteers restore the sign on the front of the Veterans Hall. 
Photo by Larry Ingram.

Photo 4:
More than 170 volunteers worked on the renovation which began April 11 and celebrated at a dedication ceremony held May 11, by the VFW and American Legion Post 1980.
Photo by Larry Ingram.

Not one to call attention to service

Upon reflection, of the veterans I have known, many were not inclined to tell war stories or call attention to their service.
Paul Butler was a case in point. When I delivered papers for the Durango Herald as youngster, Paul had me set up a paper tube on the corner of my folk's property, so he could come down Dunlap Hill to pick up his papers every day on his way to the Pondarosa Restaurant. The family farm on Granath Mesa, north of Dolores, was too far out for most kinds of deliveries. Occasionally, when he needed to make a winter trip, he would have me and my dad go check and make sure things didn't freeze up or something during his absence.
According to his obituary in the Dolores Star a few years ago, Paul joined the Army in 1941. "He was due to be discharged when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Paul was quickly involved in World War II. "
After training in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and New York, he shipped out across the Atlantic with the rest of 45th Thunderbird Division on the Susan B. Anthony, the same outfit as my Uncle "Stub".
"He took part in beachhead landings in Sicily, Anzio Beachhead in Italy, and in France. He was involved in liberating the Dachau Death Camp near the end of the war. For his exemplary service he was awarded the Bronze Star."
After World War II and buying the family farm on Granath Mesa, he married and raised four kids with his wife Marge. He was known as excellent fence builder and a perfectionist at everything he did. He served on the Dolores school board, was a member of the Baptist Church for over 80 years and hiked down and out of the Grand Canyon over 50 times.
"Paul was concerned citizen and a passionate advocate of causes he believed in. He was patriotic and proudly displayed the American flag," according to the Star. "He was known for his outspoken, blunt personality. One always knew where he stood on any subject, yet he had a sense of humor and a soft heart."
There were lots of other good deeds that Paul did and many noteworthy accomplishments in his long, full life. But just like many veterans, he really wasn't inclined to call attention to all of them. We should probably consider that on Nov. 11, and every day for that matter. Remember all who served.
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