Improvements made in veterans’ memorial park

MONTE VISTA — The Monte Vista Community Fund (MVCF) was established by community volunteers who were interested in improving the lives of families in Monte Vista. One of the missions of the MFCF is to raise funds for the Faith Hinkley Memorial Park project, which began March 10, 2011.

The City of Monte Vista partnered with both the Monte Vista School District and the MVCF to develop the Faith Hinkley Memorial Park as a city welcome area and memorial park to commemorate the lives of those San Luis Valley residents killed in any war. The park is located at the intersection of US Highways 285 and 160 and CO-150 and adjacent to the Bill Metz Elementary School.

The City of Monte Vista received a GOCO Grant to be completed by September 27, 2018. The grant Scope of Work includes the installation the Restroom (preparation, plumbing and electrical), five small Benches and five granite benches, three shade structures, trash receptacles and fencing.  Rob Vance, Parks and Recreation Department, City of Monte Vista, has organized and supervised his staff to perform the requirements of the grant. Additional work has been completed to include lighting to the Central Memorial Stones for Faith Hinkley and Glenn Martinez to shine on the central flags and memorial at night.

In the process, Colette Skeff, MVCF, purchased five flagpoles/flags representing five military branches (US Army, US Marines, US Navy, US Air Force and US Coast Guard) and will be installed before the fencing is completed. The REC has small groups who volunteer to help with community projects. Loren Howard, CEO of the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, organized his volunteer staff to dig the holes for the flagpoles on July 5. The flagpoles were installed by the City of Monte Vista on July 12.

The MVCF can’t begin to thank Rob and the REC for their time and service to this project. Also, to Bob Bryning who worked hard and spent many hours to organize and raise funds, to John Glass who ordered and engraved the central memorial stones and to the past and current members of the MVCF for their time and effort to this project.

A big thank you to the Hinkley and Martinez families. Though the community originally suggested to begin the park as a tribute to Sgt. Faith Hinkley, Faith’s mother, Anavee said that she knew her daughter would like to share the honor with others, so while the park is named in memory of Faith, it is also a veterans’ memorial that will recognize Faith as well as the many fallen heroes from Monte Vista and the San Luis Valley. So the park started with the three beautiful stones in the center of the park to honor U.S. Army Sergeant Faith Hinkley and U.S. Marine Sergeant Glen E. Martinez.

Community members and organizations came together to contribute funds and support to make this park come to life as a part of this community.

The park is a beautiful addition to City of Monte Vista and will serve as a remembrance of the valor and the sacrifices willingly made by veterans in time of war. It is a wonderful way to be a part of history and to bring people together to be a site of reflection, commemoration and inspiration.

The MVCF will continue to apply for grants and to organize fundraisers to complete the park to include the five stone monuments for the five military branches, pavers/stamped concrete to replace the red rock and a wall in front of the restroom area.   

You are encouraged to express your pride, commitment and hope by helping to honor the veterans of the San Luis Valley by buying pavers or donating money and participating in fundraisers to complete to park.

Please contact Colette Skeff (852-3435) for donation information.

CaptionShan Hunter operated the digger. Charlie Booth assisted Shan with the digger operations and helpers were Manuel Garcia, Clay McCarroll and Loren Howard./Courtesy photo