Statement on Camp Hale-Continental Divide designation as a National Monument
Once a training area by U.S. Army to prepare soldiers for combat in World Word II, the Camp Hale-Continental Divide has been designated a National Monument.
HECHO supports President Joe Biden's first designation of a national monument since taking office, using his executive authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906.
"As Warriors, we train for combat in harsh environments such as the mountains of Colorado, but for veterans, the wilderness provides us a safe space to heal ourselves. This also provides veterans a space for them and their families to bond and grow," says Don Martinez, HECHO's HCLC member who served in Iraq with the 10TH MTN, 2nd Brigade, in 2004-2005.
Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse introduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act in Congress to protect over 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado, including Camp Hale. However, the bill has been stalled in the Senate for years.
"Colorado elected leaders, conservationists, veterans, outdoor enthusiasts, and locals have been asking for the protection of this historical site. The community strongly supports this designation, and we are pleased their voices have been heard," says Camilla Simon. "It is important to remember that the 10th Mountain Division was a segregated unit where people of color were not allowed. The designation of Camp Hale as a national monument is an opportunity to tell the full story of the past for current and future generations and recognize the important contributions that people of color have made to this area."
Camp Hale is located along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains, a stunning landscape of tremendous historical significance and rich wildlife. Since its deactivation in 1965, Camp Hale has been used for recreation and rehabilitation for Coloradans and veterans.
"Having federally protected lands allows veterans the opportunity to engage in Wilderness Therapy as part of their journey home, a therapy much more effective for treating conditions such as PTSD and TBI's, as well as reducing suicidal ideations, something that the veteran community continues to struggle with. By preserving historical sites like Camp Hale, we are also preserving our culture and heritage as Coloradans and Americans," adds Martinez.
The designation as a national monument will prevent drilling and mining at Camp Hale. But other historic sites and ancestral landscapes remain at risk and need immediate protection.
HECHO supports the Antiquities Act and hopes Nevada's Avi Kwa Ame and Texas’ Castner Range are next to be designated national monuments.