The Forum – A Field Trip To The New Veterans Memorial Plaza

A Day To Honor Our Veterans

“We took time out of our lives to serve our country. Some served a little. Some gave a lot of service. Some were in for four years. Some were in for 20 years. Some lost their lives. And these are not just some random people in a crowd. These are our friends, family, and neighbors. And we think it’s really critical to be able to acknowledge that.” (Former Mayor Dave Frank regarding the Montrose Veterans Memorial Plaza.)

The Forum is taking a very significant field trip this week and joining the community at the new Montrose Veterans Memorial Plaza!

• Date: Wednesday, November 11
• Time: 10:00 am – Ribbon Cutting/Dedication and/or 11:00 am – Inaugural Veterans Day Ceremony
• Location: 1800 Pavilion Drive, across from the Pavilion and just west of the Botanical Gardens. Parking is available in the Pavilion parking lot.

Key Milestones & History

• The Vision (Early 2021): Mike Trickey—a U.S. Marine veteran and executive director of the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans—conceived the idea for a bold, modern memorial to honor all local veterans.
• Work began in April 2026 on the new Montrose Veterans Memorial Plaza after roughly five years of planning, fundraising, and community collaboration.
• Coalition & Partnerships: Local veterans formed the Montrose Veterans Memorial Coalition (MVMC), which partnered with the City of Montrose, Montrose County, local veteran groups (like the American Legion and DAV), and the Colorado National Guard.
• Site Selection: Originally considered for Cerise Park, the project was sited on an undeveloped city-owned lot directly west of the Montrose Botanic Gardens and the Montrose Pavilion Event Center. This location offers views of the San Juan Mountains and bus/parking access.
• Design & Features: The memorial features laser-engraved granite panels chronicling military history from World War I through the Global War on Terror, dedicated bricks honoring individual service members, informational displays, and recognition of all branches of the armed forces.
• Groundbreaking (April 2026): Ceremonial construction and site excavation officially kicked off in April 2026, supported by hundreds of community donors, Stryker Construction, Del-Mont Consulting, the City and County, and a long list of local businesses, organizations, and suppliers.

Upcoming Events

• November 18 – Billy Goat Hop Farm & LaNoue Dubois Winery
• November 25 – No Forum: Thanksgiving

Each week, The Forum hosts a speaker who shares a topic of interest to the community. The Forum is free and open to anyone interested in Montrose. The Forum meets on Wednesdays (except during major holiday weeks) at Colorado Mesa University – Montrose, in Cascade Hall, south of the Montrose Library, at the corner of S 3rd Street and S Cascade Ave.

Can’t make the live presentation? Watch the recording on the City of Montrose YouTube channel or at 4 pm on Community Access Channel 191 or 970