[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 45 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            GROUNDBREAKING OF EDWARDS, COLORADO FREEDOM PARK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the ground breaking of the Freedom Park Memorial located in Edwards.
  Once built, the Freedom Park Memorial will feature a building and a 
lakeside memorial park to celebrate freedom and to commemorate the 
personal sacrifices of the men and women who have served in our Armed 
Forces and our emergency services.
  The idea for the Freedom Park Memorial originated with several local 
veterans, including Buddy Sims, and has grown into a valley wide grass 
roots effort including a steering committee, the board of directors and 
their subcommittees, Eagle County community leaders, the three county 
commissioners, business professionals, military veterans, and emergency 
service personnel from local police and fire departments, and mountain 
rescue.
  Mr. Speaker, the Freedom Park Memorial will be used as an educational 
tool for visitors, teachers, and students. It will feature a ``Time 
Wall'' that will list the conflicts involving United States forces 
since the Revolutionary War. The Freedom Park will also commemorate 
emergency responders. In addition, the names of Eagle County residents 
who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces will be 
inscribed in the Veterans Memorial; Eagle County emergency responders 
who lost their lives in duty will have their names inscribed at the 
Emergency Responders Memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The 
Freedom Park Memorial and to celebrate the personal sacrifices of the 
men and women of Eagle County who have served in our Armed Forces and 
our emergency responders.

                          ____________________