One of the region's most enduring military tributes returns to Cripple Creek next weekend, bringing together motorcyclists, veterans, and community supporters for a two-day commemoration. Hundreds of riders are expected to fill the mountain town's main street for the event.
Now in its 39th year, the rally traces its roots to the 1980s, when it was founded largely to bring together Vietnam veterans who had not been welcomed back by their communities upon returning from service. Over time, the event has grown into a broader gathering aimed at fostering connection among veterans from multiple generations, each carrying their own distinct but overlapping burdens.
The weekend kicks off Friday and encompasses live music, food, and vendors, with the noon ceremony serving as the focal point of the event, according to organizer Jim Wear. Riders taking part in the POW/MIA Recognition Ride will stage at Woodland Park High School on Saturday morning before making their way to Cripple Creek for the midday remembrance ceremony. The column departs at 10 a.m., and spectators are welcome to post themselves along the highway corridor from Woodland Park through Divide, then along Colorado 67 into Cripple Creek.
Saturday afternoon will also feature three demonstrations by Fort Carson military police officers and their dogs in Cripple Creek Park, highlighting capabilities such as detection work. "That's a really rare opportunity for people to get to see these military dogs work," Wear said.
Wear shared accounts of the rally's lasting effect on individual veterans over the years. Some World War II veterans carried shame about having been taken prisoner and concealed that history for decades; in at least one case, such a veteran came to feel that the rally and its participants had done more to honor the POW experience than the government had. In a separate account, an injured veteran had been on the verge of ending his life before a friend brought him to the event — he had already given away his dog, dissolved his relationship, and closed his bank account — but after attending he found reason to continue, and within five years had rebuilt his life with a new companion and a new relationship, Wear recalled. "What it's really about is putting these people together in a situation where they can heal," he said.
Wear anticipates attendance of around 10,000 this year. Admission to the festival grounds is free to all, though participating in the ride carries a $10 fee. Full schedule and registration details are available at www.theveteransrally.org or by calling 719-487-8005.
Attendance totals and a full account of the noon ceremony are expected to be available once the event concludes next weekend.