We Remember to Never Forget - Two 9-11 Memorials in Colorado --

Last summer, on a visit to Colorado before I moved here permanently, I accompanied my daughter on a business trip to Pueblo, Colorado. While she was with her clients, I wandered around the beautiful Riverwalk in the downtown area.  You can see more about the Riverwalk on this post, and about the Center for American Values, that is located there, on this post.

Right outside the Center of American Values, which honors the United States Medal of Honor recipients, was this breathtaking memorial to 9-11.

A steel beam from the actual World Trade Center ruins was balanced on top of two tower-like figures, pointed towards the direction of New York City.

A close up of the plaque that accompanies the memorial. 

My visit to Pueblo was right after the 2012, 9-11 anniversary, and I found it very touching to see how my soon to be new home state vowed: "We Remember to Never Forget'!

Even more so, I soon found there was to be another heartbreaking connection to 9-11 in my new state of Colorado.  When I visited the 9-11 Memorial in New York City, one last time before I moved, (you can see that post here) I took the time to photograph many of the names engraved around the memorial waterfalls, both people I or my husband knew that perished that fateful day, as well as others that became well known after the event.

One name I photographed was of the pilot of United Airlines Flight 93, Jason M Dahl.  Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on 9-11, 2001, because of the heroic efforts of the passengers on board who fought the terrorists, to prevent further probable death and destruction in Washington, DC.

When I moved to my new neighborhood in the Littleton, Colorado area in January of this year, I passed this memorial not far from where I live.  It was a memorial to Pilot Jason M Dahl, who lived in my community until that fateful day!

Here is another photo I took of the memorial, this summer, on July 4th.

(Click on the photo to enlarge it, and then again when it opens to see an even larger view).

The Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund was set up by his wife, Sandy Dahl, after 9-11, to help worthy students of aviation. Sadly, Sandy Dahl passed away in her sleep on May 25, 2012, but the scholarship fund continues. In New York City I was surrounded by memorials and reminders of the 9-11 tragedy, but I did not expect to find such a connection here, over 1,800 miles away!  It made me realize more than ever that we are all connected in some way to the events of 9-11, whether they took place in our city or not. It was an attack on our entire nation and our way of life. We will have to remain vigilant, no matter where we live, to prevent something like this from ever happening again!

I took the following video of one of the 9-11 Memorial Waterfalls during my visit to the Memorial.  The two waterfalls lie in the footprints of the World Trade Center Tower One and Tower Two, a solemn reminder of where so many perished that day.  Water flows from all four sides into the center abyss.



Would you like to turn September 11 into a day of positive good deeds, charitable service, and inspiration?  I could not think of a better way to remember those lost than to do something good to help another in their memory.  Go to the 9/11 Day Observance web page and look where you can volunteer in your community on, or around, the 9-11 date. 

May "We Remember to Never Forget"!

If you would like to read all of my prior 10 posts about 9-11 please click on this link

Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, Colorado

I visited the scenic Historic Arkansas Riverwalk in Pueblo, Colorado early one-morning last year, when I accompanied my daughter on a business trip to the area.  The historic Riverwalk of Pueblo is a 32-acre urban waterfront experience that is opened to the public daily.

Information from the Riverwalk web site:

"The Riverwalk returned the river to its historic location in the heart of downtown Pueblo, after being diverted in the 1920s due to a devastating flood that destroyed much of Pueblo. The Riverwalk’s current location serves the community by revitalizing a segment of the downtown area that was previously unsightly and unusable. This urban development transforms the community and has been vital in attracting new businesses, thereby helping to stabilize the economic base of the city.

The Arkansas River has been the lifeblood of Pueblo for over 300 years. Native Americans followed the river for hunting and trapping. Early settlers came as sheepherders and cattlemen. Agriculture blossomed in Pueblo’s warmer climate and the steel industry used the bountiful water resources to build a massive manufacturing center. Four nations have claimed ownership over the Arkansas River at the current location of the Riverwalk; Mexico, Spain, France and the Republic of Texas."

The Riverwalk is two miles long and loops around in a continuous path, so it is easy to navigate by walking. Double click on the photo above to see a map of its points of interest.

One can buy a ticket in season, May through September, to ride along the river on an excursion boat, a gondola, or paddle boats.

I enjoyed walking along the entire Riverwalk pathway to see all the wonderful mosaics...

...and to read all the informational placards about the history of the Riverwalk

Please double click on the photo collage above to enlarge it, to read the information and quotations.

There are many sculptural exhibits, entertainment venues, interactive fountains, as well as restaurants on the Riverwalk, as well as nearby retail shops.

I already showed you the inspiring Center for American Values, that honors the American Medal of Honor recipients, which is located on the Riverwalk, in a prior post. (click here to read that post)

This beautiful sculpture on the Riverwalk is by David McGary, is modeled after a native Lakota woman who is displaying her treasured heirloom quilt. It is entitled "Walks Among the Stars."

Please double click on the mosaic above to enlarge it to see all the wonderful detail in the sculpture.

There are also quite a few placards on the Riverwalk that tell the story of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike's discovery and attempt to climb the mountain they called "Grand Peak," later known as Pike's Peak.

Please double click on the photo of the placard above to read more about Pike's discovery.

A view of Pike's Peak in the far distance.

More beautiful mosaics and sculpture on the Riverwalk that tell the story of the area.

Double click above to learn the interesting story behind the Arkansas River that begins its flow from the highest peak in Colorado, Mt. Elbert, elevation 14,433 feet.

A portion of the Riverwalk has a natural embankment. There you can see native Cottonwood trees

 I enjoyed sitting on this bench on the Riverwalk as I waited for my daughter to finish her business meeting so that we could return to Denver, about a two-hour ride away.

If you ever visit Pueblo, Colorado, I think you'll find that it is definitely worth making a visit to the beautiful Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. It is one of the highlights of the city!

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