Then & Now
Veterans Memorials in Fort Collins
by | Oct 11, 2018 | Fort Collins, National History, Renovations & Razes |
Undated photo of Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue. Photo may have been taken in early 1970s from doorway entrance of Ghent Motor Company (now Beaujo’s Restaurant).
The first Larimer County Veterans Memorial was constructed in May 1944. It was located in center island at 100 block of Laporte Avenue, next to North College Avenue.
Larimer County Veterans Memorial deactivation ceremony December 7, 1989 (source: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, H17125).
Larimer County Veterans Memorial deactivation ceremony with Harold Warren, Diana Stevens and Army ROTC Cadet Ronald Gimbel on December 7, 1989 (source: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, T00418).
The Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue was decommissioned on December 7, 1989.
This Larimer County Veterans Memorial was dedicated on May 7, 1989 at Fort Collins Edora Park. The dedication ceremony followed the deactivation ceremony on Laporte Avenue. All names from original plaques are engraved at this site.
Tom Eckrich plays the trumpet during a Memorial Day service Monday, May 25, 2015, at Edora Park Veterans Memorial in Fort Collins. (source – Morgan Spiehs/The Coloradoan) All names from plates at former Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue are engraved at this site.
A new Larimer County Veterans Memorial was dedicated on December 7, 1989 at Fort Collins Edora Park.
The plaques from Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue are now displayed inside Fort Collins American Legion, George Beach Post 4 (left plaque honors WWI (formerly south face of Laporte Avenue Veterans Memorial); center plaques honor WWII (formerly east face of Laporte Avenue Veterans Memorial); and right plaque honors Korean and Vietnam). (Dean Schachterle, July 22, 2018)
All plaques from the first Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue are now located inside Fort Collins American Legion, George Beach Post 4.
Flag pole from Larimer County Veterans Memorial on Laporte Avenue now graces front entry to Fort Collins Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rocky Mountain Post 1781 with base of bricks from Laporte Avenue Veterans Memorial. (Dean Schachterle, July 22, 2018)
Bricks and flag pole from original Laporte Avenue Veterans Memorial are currently at Fort Collins Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rocky Mountain Post 1781.
My newspaper clippings detailing the demolition, which happened on Monday, April 19, 1993.
The vacant Larimer County Veterans Memorial was demolished on April 19, 1993.
Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado opened at Fort Collins Spring Canyon Community Park in November 2011. It recognizes all U.S.veterans and most recently brought the Vietnam Traveling Wall in May 2017.
Another Veterans Memorial, Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado, opened at Fort Collins Spring Canyon Community Park in November 2011.
Meg’s note: Dean first posted the above text and photos on Facebook to the group “You know you grew up in Fort Collins, CO if you remember….” The question seems to come up over and over again in that group, “Whatever happened to the veterans memorial with all those plaques that used to be up in the center of Laporte Avenue?” After seeing this post by Dean that not only tracked what happened to that old memorial, but that also described several new ones, I asked if I could reshare that content here. So this post has been only slightly modified from the original Facebook post in order to make it a little more coherent in a blog format. To see Dean’s original post, along with all of the comments that have been added over time, check out the original Facebook post from July 25, 2018.
How can I receive information regarding having my father-in-law’s name George C. Padilla formerly of Loveland, Colorado placed on a Larimer. Veterans Memorial? He was Korean War Veteran that recently received numerous medals and a Presidential Citation through a ceremony by The Forgotten Heroes Campaign.
Hi Philip. Sorry I missed this comment. Unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure who you should talk to. I would recommend contacting one of the local American Legion or another veterans organization. I believe the one in Loveland is on Cleveland between 3rd and 4th. Good luck!