The effort to establish a Douglas County monument to veterans has been in the works for nearly two years and the effort is about to pay off.

The Veteran’s Monument Foundation is putting out a call for people interested in joining their judging panel to select the winning entry for the Douglas County Veterans Monument, said Henry Bohne, manager of the Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs.

Bohne is among the working group that formed in 2008 to brainstorm on what a veteran’s monument might look like. By 2009 the group established the non-profit foundation that would win over Douglas County commissioners. The commissioners decided to renovate an area at the county building along Wilcox between Third and Fourth streets in Castle Rock. Part of that renovation will include a parcel set aside for the veteran’s monument underway by the Veteran’s Monument Foundation, Bohne said.

“The Douglas County parks, trails and grounds department is responsible for the site,” Bohne said. “The foundation is going to pay for the monument itself.”

The foundation put out a call for interested artists and in mid-October hosted an on-site tour with about 20 artists, designers and sculptors interested in submitting a design entry. When word of the meeting reached the art community, about half a dozen additional artists asked for the design criteria, hoping for a chance to submit their work for consideration, Bohne said.

The designs will be delivered to the parks and trails department, which on Nov. 12 unveils the entries to commence the judging.

The criteria for the veteran’s monument called for a simple design where people can enjoy a quiet moment of reflection in a welcoming place for families and individuals, which honors veterans from past conflicts and active military personnel. With the land available courtesy of the county, the foundation aims to keep the cost of the monument below $100,000, Bohne said.

“We want it to be something that will extend into the future,” he said.

Bohne hopes for community participation on the panel of judges. The Veteran’s Monument Foundation invites anyone interested in being a part of selecting the design for the Douglas County Veterans Monument to contact Bohne at 303-688-4825, ext. 5359 or at hbohne@douglas.co.us.

Veteran’s Day flag ceremony

An Eagle Scout project turned community event takes place on Veteran’s Day at the Douglas County fairgrounds.

Boy Scout Shane Benjamin of Franktown decided to collect US flags slated for retirement as part of his Eagle Scout project. Benjamin converted three discarded US Mail receptacles, transforming them from their standard blue into a patriotic theme. He deposited the boxes at three Douglas County libraries for flag collection.

Within about two months, and with the help of the Douglas County Office of Veteran’s Affairs, Benjamin collected more than 1,000 flags, said Henry Bohne, manager of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs.

Benjamin decided to take the collection and host a retirement ceremony at the Douglas County fairgrounds, where the flags will be burned in a traditional disposal ceremony, Bohne said.

The project is supported by the American Legion Post in Castle Rock. The Castle Rock Fire Department will oversee the ceremony, which begins at 5 p.m., Nov. 11 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Drive in Castle Rock.