First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. R25-0787.01 Asia Alosa x4829
HJR25-1017
House Committees Senate Committees
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25-1017
C
ONCERNING HONORING THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION OF101
C
OLORADO.102
WHEREAS, Tucked in a high mountain valley south of Minturn1
in Eagle County, Colorado, Camp Hale was the home base for the2
renowned World War II 10th Mountain Division, an elite U.S. Army3
mountain warfare unit; and4
WHEREAS, Comprised of thousands of troops who trained5
intensely to acquire rock climbing, skiing, and other vital mountaineering6
skills necessary to battle within harsh high-altitude winter conditions,7
Camp Hale served as a specialized military training site to prepare8
soldiers for combat against European Axis forces in mountainous and9
arctic conditions during World War II; and10
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Feret and Keltie, Camacho, Carter, Armagost, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms,
Bradfield, Bradley, Brown, Caldwell, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Froelich, Garcia Sander,
Gilchrist, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Lieder, Lukens,
Mabrey, Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Paschal, Pugliese, Richardson, Ricks, Rydin,
Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg,
Winter T., Woodrow, Woog
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Carson and Roberts,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. WHEREAS, The severe winters and rugged terrain at Camp Hale1
helped prepare the 10th Mountain Division's skiing soldiers for their2
brave battles in the northern Italian Alps and Apennines, including a3
particular battle in February 1945 when thousands of 10th Mountain4
Division soldiers silently scaled the steep Riva Ridge in Italy and5
prevented Germans from using the precipice to survey U.S. forces below6
and then, the next day, they joined a successful assault on Mount7
Belvedere, an Axis stronghold, during which hundreds of 10th Mountain8
Division soldiers perished; and9
WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers fought tirelessly10
in Italy and central Europe until Germany's final surrender in 1945 and11
then returned to the United States, where the division was demobilized12
and inactivated on November 20, 1945, at Camp Carson, Colorado; and13
WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at14
Camp Hale during World War II not only distinguished themselves15
internationally for their bravery but also brought worldwide attention to16
Colorado's unique climate and geography for specialized military training;17
and18
WHEREAS, While the 10th Mountain Division has changed in its19
purpose to reflect the unique military needs of our country following20
World War II, the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division deserves21
protection and tribute; we, the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, recognize22
the hard work and remarkable bravery needed to protect the United States23
and its beleaguered World War II Allies from enemy forces; and24
WHEREAS, Many veterans of the 10th Mountain Division25
dedicated the rest of their lives to the conservation of Camp Hale and the26
Tenmile Range area after World War II, creating the 10th Mountain27
Division Hut Association. The association works to preserve 30 huts,28
which allow visitors to experience the land and conditions as the 10th29
Mountain Division did over 80 years ago; and30
WHEREAS, In a historic act that speaks to the 10th Mountain31
Division's valuable role in American history, President Joseph R. Biden,32
Jr. used his powers granted pursuant to the federal Antiquities Act for the33
first time during his administration to declare Camp Hale the Camp34
Hale-Continental Divide National Monument on October 12, 2022,35
thereby protecting both the natural environment and the state heritage36
interwoven with the area; and37
HJR25-1017
-2- WHEREAS, President Biden's proclamation of Camp Hale as a1
national monument ensures the preservation of the veterans' post-war2
effort and the memory of their heroic actions; thanks to the 10th3
Mountain Division Hut Association, visitors can now ski a mile in the4
division's shoes and enjoy the training facilities recreationally; and5
WHEREAS, The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National6
Monument will serve as a reminder of the 10th Mountain Division and7
their sacrifice for generations to come; now, therefore,8
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth9
General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:10
That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, hereby11
memorialize the 10th Mountain Division and declare our appreciation for12
the newly designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide National13
Monument.14
Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent15
to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation, the 10th Mountain Division16
Hut Association, the 10th Mountain Division at U.S. Army Fort Drum,17
the Colorado Snowsports Museum, the Eagle County Board of18
Commissioners, the Summit County Board of Commissioners, the Lake19
County Board of Commissioners, Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John20
Hickenlooper, Representative Joe Neguse, and Representative Brittany21
Pettersen.22
HJR25-1017
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