Adam’s County Veteran’s Memorial Ribbon Cutting: A Unique Event Unveils a Unique Structure
July, 2023
On Memorial Day, politicians, project stakeholders, veterans, and a community came together to dedicate the unique structure and honor servicemembers.
Exactly 100 years after the USS Colorado first set sail in service, it was officially reenlisted as part of the Adams County Veteran’s Memorial in Brighton, Colorado, but this time as a quarter scale replica. The unique structure based on the vessel is part of broader improvements to Riverdale Regional Park and its much-anticipated Memorial Day dedication drew a large response from the community.
Personal Connections, Family Ties, and A Memorial Day to Remember
Turnout for the event included Adams County Commissioners, Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, and Ken Jones, a U.S. Navy Veteran who actually served on the USS Colorado during World War II. Fellow veterans as well as active service members and the community at large rounded out the large crowd in attendance for the event that included a flyover of F16 jets.
““The veterans memorial stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of our community, a labor of love that has brought us together… From the initial stages of fundraising to the meticulous planning and construction, our journey has been one of collaboration and dedication.”
Charles “Chaz” Tedesco, Adams County Commissioner
Project stakeholders were also present, including members of the Otak structural team, Dan Beltzer and Jim Quigley. “It’s excellent to design a completely unique feature for all to enjoy,” said Beltzer.
The structure was so unique in fact that they had a hard time finding other replicas that had been done similarly. “I think for most people it’s safe to say this would be their first battleship replica they’ve worked on,” said Quigley. For one source of inspiration, a contractor for the project just so happened to be spending time at Pearl Harbor where they paid special attention to the detail of the ships stationed there.
In addition to his professional pride in making the memorial a reality, Jim also found a personal connection at the event.
“My grandfather was in the army during WWII and my mom has two brothers [in the service] as well as cousins and in-laws. So, it was really cool to work on something that honors what they’ve done,” said Quigley who also brought his son along. “The flyover was really neat and my uncle flew an F16 so it was great for my son to see how his family has been involved first hand.”
Now officially open to the public, the Memorial also includes monuments for each branch of the military, plaques featuring significant quotes, and a wall dedicated to telling the story of a soldier. Along with the replica ship is also a replica of its bell, made by the same foundry that made the current USS Colorado (an active-duty submarine) to be used at ceremonies.
Because of its importance to the community, the project team worked closely with the Adams County Veteran’s Advisory Board and County staff to ensure public input was incorporated into the design.
As part of the larger park, the Adam’s County Veteran’s Memorial is also surrounded by a variety of other public amenities. An amphitheater will be added later this year as well so the park can host even more events in the future.
Take a closer look at the Adams County Veteran’s Memorial project and learn more about the inspiration behind this unique structure and public asset.