Bike Leans - Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial

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Today’s Bike Lean is not about scenery, or humor, or mural art; rather, it’s about honoring war dead. Taken about 3 years ago, this is my gravel bike, Agent Gravel, at the Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial in Fruita, Colorado. The Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial is the result of hard work by a group of local veterans fronted by Jim Doody, and contributors, wanting to honor their fallen brethren. Its main feature is a Huey Helicopter watching over a wall of names of Western Slope casualties. It sits in a public park, and is often the site for veteran-related ceremonies. It’s a work in progress - names are added to the Memorial as they become known. It was dedicated on July 4th, 2003. This was an annual Project Hero ride (for logistical reasons, we stay closer to Denver now) for a few years. If you were capable, you made the climb through the Colorado National Monument from Grand Junction to Fruita (46 miles total round trip.) If not, you rode directly from Grand Junction to Fruita (22 miles round trip.) We would meet up and eat lunch at the park, then head to the Memorial for a moment of silence before riding directly back to Grand Junction. Link is a short (2:34) film showing the Memorial experience: