Questions Still Linger on New Host Community for Popular Event.
Rick Langenberg
In what event insiders are calling the final Salute to American Veterans rally in Woodland Park, the 32nd annual festival ended its stint in “The City Above the Clouds by waving a huge success flag and going out with a definite bang, not to mention featuring impressive crowds.
The ceremony once again, held in Memorial Park, got A-plus reviews as tributes were made to honorary veterans and a special recanting this year of the horrific battle of Hue City, Vietnam. New plaque dedications occurred, in honor of Jay Camino, known as the former mighty face behind Phil Long Ford, and for Roy Box. The Colorado Honor Bell, meanwhile, tolled away, in tribute to the sacrifices made by area veterans.
It was a definite time for flag-waving and patriotism, and Mother Nature played nice and even handed procession-goers a scorcher in the mountains. Hundreds of veterans and residents, who attended the ceremony, didn’t complain about the hot weather.
The big question lingering now is where the rally, considered one of Teller County’s signature events, will go next year and for future summers. “The rally is searching for a new home,” said Jim Wear, the president of ProPromotions, the sponsor and promoter of the event, following the 2024 rally. “It should be no surprise to anyone that the rally won’t be coming back to Woodland Park.”
The POW/MIA procession ride between Woodland Park and Cripple Creek, though, will remain in place, noted Wear. But the main host community or area for featuring the many veteran-friendly festivities and ceremonies, is still up in the air. Some speculation has abounded that Cripple Creek could host the event again, but nothing official has been proposed.
Cripple Creek hosted the event for years; but the rally did leave the gaming community twice during its colorful history. If left earlier for Winter Park, but returned to Cripple Creek several years later, and then took a detour stop in Woodland Park several years ago, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic.
A Roaring Success, Despite Hurdles
The Aug. 17 rally this year faced a few last-minute hurdles, capped by road closures due to paving and related infrastructure projects in a main core of town that have even confused local residents and business owners.
“Considering all the curve balls we had to deal with, it went very well,” said Wear He credited the city of Woodland Park’s administration, the police department and other law enforcement agencies for their cooperation. “Thanks to their help, we were able to pull it off. We are very happy with how it turned out. They (city and county law enforcement) did a spectacular job.”
He said he often evaluates the success of the rally based on the number of complaints that surface. And this year, the ProPromotions president stated they have received zilch. And equally as important, no problems occurred during the motorcycle procession ride between Woodland Park and Cripple Creek, with zero arrests or accidents, noted Wear.
According to Wear, the main problem the organizers confronted with the sudden road closures is that they didn’t have a Plan B.
But final adjustments were made and the rally’s ceremony, one of the event’s more emotional tributes, occurred without any problems and was attended by hundreds of procession-goers.
Wear roughly estimated that the entire event generated about 5,000 participants. He admitted the weather definitely helped.
Sometimes in past years, the ceremony in Memorial Park, featured rainy weather and frigid temperatures. That wasn’t the case for the 2024 rally, as many sought shade, and some weren’t afraid to pull out an umbrella for relief.
The annual ceremony was capped by a slew of patriotic presentations.
One of the more detailed, touching tributes came from Jim Wear himself, as he recanted the horrific battle of Hue City during the Vietnam War. He even took the occasion to honor his own brother, John Wear. At times, Jim Wear had to hold back tears in describing the challenges his brother faced following this battle. John Wear, a former Marine, who never revealed much or anything about this time in Vietnam for years, was bestowed with an official presentation of honors. Also honored was John Huntz, another Marine veteran, who encountered a brutally tough situation in Vietnam, similar to the plight of many veterans in what some still consider America’s forgotten war.
A special tribute was made to Gerald “Jay” Camino, the legendary figure behind Phil Long Ford, and a big supporter of veteran programs, and a former Marine. His name is now enshrined on the special Veteran Memorial display in Memorial Park, along with a new dedication for Ray Box, a U.S. Army veteran.
The ceremony also was capped by the tolling of the Colorado Honor Bell, paying tribute to those veterans who have lost their lives.
All in all, the ceremony was well received, and was attended by diverse age groups and people, and featured many community leaders.
“I don’t know how anyone who attends this ceremony cannot see the benefits of what we are trying to do here. This is about getting the veterans together and supporting them and having a spirit of comradery and patriotism.”
He believes that too often attention centers around the ProPromotions organization when it comes to the annual Salute Rally and Festival. “Our role is really just to set the table. They (area veterans) are the ones that come to the table.”
A Future Rally Site
As far as next year’s event, much speculation has occurred.
Wear is doubtful that the even, at least the ceremony aspect, can return to Woodland Park due to funding obstacles. Plus, he admits the rally event in Woodland Park is somewhat hampered by parking and vendor limitations and other infrastructure obstacles.
But can the event occur again in Cripple Creek?
That decision rests on the shoulders of the city council and is contingent on dollars and cents, a situation that may start taking form during the forthcoming budget season. The current council appears more Rally-friendly than a previous cadre of elected leaders, who made it clear they were not fond of ProPromotions and the biker rally. Plus, elected leaders and officials have now voiced support for bringing back more festivals, an idea that was frowned upon during the COVID-19 era.
And it’ no secret that Salute Rally politics have entered the picture. Wear concedes he won’t win any awards for diplomacy, when it comes to dealing with local political leaders at times. “I am just not good at delegating local politics,” admitted Wear.
At the same time, he concedes that he has received many calls from local residents in support of the Rally’s possible return to southern Teller, and for continuing the event. He says the rally has received much support from this part of the county.
But for right now, Wear quips, “We are homeless.”
Ultimately, the ProPromotions leader would like to see the annual remembrance ceremony and rally continue through 2027, along with the motorcycle procession. That would represent the 40th annual ceremony for the POW/MIA Recognition Ride and the 35th birthday for the rally.
