[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the 
100th anniversary of the dedication of the Colorado National Monument 
on May 24, 2011. The monument's 32 square miles of red rock canyons, 
pinnacles and vistas on Colorado's Western Slope are a wonder to 
behold. They provide essential habitat for keystone species like the 
golden eagle and desert bighorn and a unique campus for junior rangers 
to learn and connect with the high desert ecosystem. Anyone who has 
hiked one of the Monument's many trails or driven historic Rim Rock 
Drive understands that this is a place worthy of celebration.
  For a century now, visitors to this monument have been not only awed 
by its beauty but also inspired by its past. This rare piece of earth 
gained Federal recognition due to the dedicated efforts of John Otto, 
who made his home in these canyons. He worked for years to build trails 
and organize support, succeeding in 1911 as President William Howard 
Taft signed a proclamation declaring the monument. Just weeks later, 
Otto made his first daring climb to plant an American flag at the top 
of the 450-foot tall spire known as Independence Monument, on the 
Fourth of July. That day confirmed what Coloradans already knew--that 
we had something special.
  But John Otto didn't end his commitment there. He became the 
monument's first park ranger, living in a tent and helping visitors 
discover the canyons for 16 more years. Through the lens of history, 
his dedication stands as a shining example of what it means to work for 
something you believe in so strongly. The history of the Colorado 
National Monument remains a testament to the spirit, conviction, and 
love of our land that makes the State of Colorado what it is today.
  By offering educational field trips to public schools, rangers at the 
Colorado National Monument are working to ensure that the science and 
history of the monument will remain in the minds of young people across 
western Colorado. All Coloradans are proud of the fact that this 
treasured landscape will continue to inspire visitors for generations 
to come. Mr. President and all other Members here today, please join me 
and all Coloradans in celebrating the monument on its 
centennial.

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