A poignant memorial site in Aurora paying tribute to Colorado soldiers who have either died or been declared missing in action in a U.S. war may soon see construction of a long-desired visitors’ center.
Some $1.5 million in federal funds has been secured for building the Colorado Freedom Memorial facility, which is expected to measure around 7,000 square feet and cost some $4 million to complete.
Located at 756 Telluride Street, the Colorado Freedom Memorial was launched as an idea in 2000, with a designer signing on the following year. Funding raising and planning over the next few years preceded actual construction of the memorial in 2013.
A series of glass panels were shortly erected bearing the names of more than 6,200 soldiers from Colorado, with the earliest service dating to the Spanish American War in 1898, roughly just two decades after the Centennial State had been admitted to the Union.
The grassy site, with trailing sidewalks leading to the panel display, will now soon see a visitors’ center that will include a classroom and theater with a seating capacity of 150.
The $1.5 million is coming in the form of a Community Project Funding grant, the awarding of which was announced by Colorado Congressman Jason Crow.
Work could begin on the center later this year, with a completion date of spring 2025.
By Garry Boulard
