Thousands Expected for 33rd Annual Festival
Rick Langenberg
The big veterans rally and motorcycle procession, touted as probably the most frequently attended event in Teller County, has finally returned to Cripple Creek after a six-year absence, capped by the COVID epidemic and a temporary stop in Woodland Park.
This marks the second time the event has returned to the gaming community, following departures to other communities, including Woodland Park, in the wake of the COVID epidemic; and earlier in Winter Park, after a fall-out with a previous city council. But those stints didn’t last, with the “City Above the Clouds” serving as the longest temporary home for the Rally, hosting it for four years.
Instead, Cripple Creek, with its terrain, typography and set-up, is rated as the top site for the Salute Rally. Expectations are quite high for the 2025 Rally, with local civic leaders enthused about the festival’s return.
“I expect record crowds,” said Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams. Williams, a combat veteran himself who fought battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a big supporter of the Rally. He sees the event as a great emotional experience for many veterans.
According to a ProPromotions press release, “the old west mining town of Cripple Creek will come alive with the sounds of thunder as tens of thousands of patriots and United States veterans come together in an awesome display of patriotism and camaraderie. Rally attendees can expect all of the usual traditions including the Veterans Parade, an awesome vendor show, live music, guest speakers, beer gardens, and casino gaming in the authentic old west mining town.”
Probably the signature event is the POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony, capped by a variety of speakers and patriotic tributes. This ceremony, scheduled for Saturday at noon, is held at City Park in Cripple Creek, with “emotions running high.” “This ceremony will make you proud to be an American,” noted Wear.
This year’s honorees include 100 year-old American EX-POW Edwin Beck, and 102 year-old WWII Veteran Helen Rydell. Wear said the event organizers are dedicating four bronze plaques for the Teller County Memorials in Cripple Creek and Woodland Park.
Another popular Rally feature is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This is an 80 percent scale replica of the National Monument in Washington D.C., It will be on display from August 13th through August 17th at the Cripple Creek High School Athletic Field.
“The WALL is something that every American should experience,” said Wear. If fact, it is not uncommon to see visitors and fellow veterans shedding tears at this site due to the memories conjured up. The Wall is open for viewing 24 hours a day, with hosts onsite from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. At the Wall, visitors can locate the name of a lost loved one – and “rub” a keepsake of it to take home.
The 38th annual POW/MIA Recognition Ride will stage at the Woodland Park High School Saturday morning, with the police escorted procession rolling up to Cripple Creek, via Hwys. 24 and 67. The annual ride is billed as “Colorado’s largest procession of motorcycles.”
This year will also mark the 13th birthday of the designated POW/MIA Memorial Highway. Hundreds of “patriots line the roadways to welcome the procession riders with American and POW Flags.
Festival Entertainment
The annual Salute Rally is also a great time for festivities and outstanding entertainment.
The 2025 Veterans Rally free concert series features some amazing regional talent, including Michael Tetrick, the Retromental Band and the Ft. Carson’s 4ID Mile High Rock Band. The Friday Night Community Street Dance will also feature local favorite, Exit West.
The Combat Vets Motorcycle Association will hold their annual Veterans Poker Run on Friday, beginning at the VFW in Woodland Park.
A big visitor favorite is the 33rd annual veterans’ parade, which takes place on Bennett Avenue Saturday at 10 a.m. with dozens of military, civic and civilian organizations participating in the patriotic parade. “This is the first time we have had a veterans’ parade for the Rally (since 2019),” said Wear. That was the last time the event took place in Cripple Creek.
Century Casino Cripple Creek, a big supporter of the festival, with give patrons a chance to Win a 2025 Harley-Davidson!
The bike will be given away at 7 p.m. on Saturday. You must be present to win.
A Tough Political Road
Rally supporters are enthused about the return of the event to Cripple Creek, which has a much better setting for the festival than other locales in which the event organizers frequented in the past. In addition, the Rally has endured quite a colorful political history locally, with concerns voiced initially about it becoming just a big biker party, and the overall costs of the rally. At times, the Rally got a negative reception by some elected leaders, mainly due to the expenses involved and questions about how the money was getting dispersed. Social media battles often were waged regarding the pros and cons of the event. In Woodland Park, the event struggled with parking issues and a limited area for the signature ceremony; while Winter Park had issues with the lodging revenues generated from the festival.
So, according to many civic leaders, including Mayor Anne Durham, Cripple Creek is the ideal home for the Veterans Rally. Wear agrees and lauds the current city council and staff in Cripple Creek for making the return possible. “The current council and mayor saved this event from extinction,” admitted Wear. “We (Jim and Pam Wear of ProPromotions) were ready to retire. But they (the city leaders) wanted to see what we could do to bring it back to Cripple Creek.”
In recent years, the event has definitely focused on more veteran-oriented tributes and emotional memories for many former members of the armed forces. Last year, Jim Wear even featured his own brother, John Wear, who dealt with much trauma during the Vietnam war. The main signature ceremony often recounts a military battle or struggle that many veterans were involved in. It also serves as a way for veterans to congregate and share experiences.
For more information about details of the event, visit the rally website at theveterans.rally.org. or the city of Cripple Creek’s tourism website.
The veteran tributes this weekend extend beyond the Salute Rally. On Sunday, the city of Cripple Creek will host the annual Pikes Peak Memorial Wall Ceremony. H This event is organized by the American Legion Post #171, which featured Ring the Bell for Freedom traveling exhibit. Survivors and friends of those who died in battle are invited to sign the book in honor of a loved one. The members have collected more than 30 pages of names in an album, which honors the memory and services by friends and family dating from the Spanish-American War. The event is scheduled on Aug. 17 at noon at the Mt. Pisgah ceremony, just outside of Cripple Creek.
The Memorial Wall project originated from the 9/11 terror attacks, and marks another major tribute done to honor military veterans. For more information about this event, call 719-270-1999.
