Trevor Phipps
The entire Southern Colorado region has gained acclaim as veterans’ country, partially due to the high number of military bases in the state.
Teller County has played a major role in reinforcing this image, as it sports one of the highest populations of military veterans per capita, possibly in the nation. As a result, locals are motivated to honor those who have served, every chance they get.
For the last year or so, local Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient John Bartlett has worked tirelessly to launch a grandiose campaign to turn the entire county into “Purple Heart Countr.” This has become a key symbolic gesture of this pro-veteran movement that has attracted much media attention. His main purpose is to remind people of all ages of the efforts veterans have made in giving the ultimate sacrifice to keep the country free.
The latest Purple Heart Trail Sign unveiling took place last Tuesday morning at the intersection of Hwys. 67 and 24 in Divide. Before the event started, officials from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) already had the sign hung underneath the POW/MIA Memorial Highway sign, but it was covered with a tarp.
A handful of local Purple Heart recipients were present at the ceremony as well as county officials. Some of the key community leaders and local dignitaries included Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell and several of his main deputies, and other well-known county employees. County Commissioner Dan Williams gave an introductory speech and read the proclamation to incorporate the local highways as a part of the national Purple Heart Trail System.
According to Williams, the process to get large highway signs placed on state and federal highways was not an easy road. Williams along with Bartlett had to get the proclamation passed by state lawmakers and signed by the governor of Colorado.
“If you don’t know, you don’t just go and put a sign on a state or federal highway, you have to go get permission from the state legislature and governor,” Williams said. “Both the state House and Senate passed the resolution unanimously and the governor signed it. And I’ll tell you that day there wasn’t a dry eye there. Every senator whether they were left of center or right of center it didn’t matter, they stood up, turned around and looked at our Vietnam Veterans and saluted. Tears were coming down some of their faces and it was very emotional.”
Williams said that county officials didn’t want to replace the POW/MIA designation, but they wanted to add the Purple Heart designation to recognize the award’s recipients. Now everyone who drives through the county will know that it supports those who have received Purple Hearts.
After Williams read the proclamation to the crowd, three local Vietnam veterans were given a chance to address the crowd before the official unveiling of the sign took place. The veterans thanked county officials for the recognition and took a moment to explain why they believed it was important for the county to be part of the nation’s Purple Heart Trail system.
Local Veterans Get Emotional at Ceremony
Bartlett, who has been the main force behind the Purple Heart Trail movement, took the floor first to explain why it is important for all generations of American citizens to know what a Purple Heart is, and what it means to receive one. He was especially happy to see a young boy in the audience during the presentation.
“The Purple Heart Metal and these signs are the symbols of the price of our freedoms,” Bartlett said. “Our freedoms are in danger right now. Another reason to put it up is to teach the younger ones and the elders not to forget what the cost was, and the fact that we need to preserve it for the younger generation.”
Bartlett explained that the county will eventually have a total of 54 signs spread between its borders. He said that one positive thing during his efforts was that he was never told “no” and he received much support from the community.
Local veteran Keith McKim then took the floor to thank county officials. He explained that he had an extra Purple Heart sign he was going to put on a part of the old Midland Trail which runs through his property. This would increase the total number of signs to 55.
A third Vietnam Veteran was present at the ceremony, but as he tried to address the crowd he choked up and got emotional. After the speeches, the three veterans joined CDOT and pulled the tarp off of the large highway sign to officially reveal it.
To date, Teller County and the cities of Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Victor have all passed resolutions to officially proclaim themselves as “Purple Heart Cities.”
A few signature local businesses have also jointed this national movement. Signs have also been presented to and hung up on the properties of the Woodland Park Walmart and Charis Bible College.
With the slew of signage, motorists and visitors, entering the county from any direction, will undoubtedly know that Teller is “Purple Heart Country.”
The latest addition of a large highway sign added to the other big signs located on the south side of Teller County near Victor, the north side near Deckers, the west side in Florissant and on the highway east of Woodland Park. Now no matter which direction a motorist enters the county from, they will know immediately that Teller County is without a doubt Purple Heart Country.
