PCU Colorado crew members recently completed another visit to Colorado. Visiting the state this time were LTJG Anthony Matus, MMA2 Tristan Newton, ITS2 Nicholas Sylvia, and ETN2 John Warren. They arrived on Monday October 9th and on Tuesday morning they visited Doherty High School in Colorado Springs where they presented a flag flown over the boat on sea trials, for placement in the schools military Hall of Honor. Afterwards they were hosted to lunch at the El Paso Club by the Trustees of the Colorado Thirty Group. After lunch, the Colorado Thirty Group, with the help of crew members, presented a plaque of the ship’s crest to the Colorado Springs City Council. The plaque is a replica of the one that the group presented to the boat at the Christening and is now mounted in the Wardroom. In the evening they had dinner with several Committee members at Front Range BBQ in Colorado Springs.
On Wednesday MMA2 Tristan Newton went to Cherokee Tails High School in Aurora and visited the Industrial Arts Class taught by Paul Clinton. The class is making “Plankowner” plaques for the commissioning crew. In the Navy members of the crew who are present at Commissioning are designated plankowners. Tom Mustin of CBS4 Denver interviewed Petty Officer Newton, two of the students in the class and Mr. Clinton for a piece that showed on the five o’clock news. The students stated how proud they were to be making the plaques for the crew.
After the visit to Cherokee Trails, Petty Officer Newton joined the other members of the crew who started their day in Fort Collins. The crew had visited Fossil Ridge High School and Fort Collins High School in the morning where they made presentations on STEM education and Navy life. At lunch time they made a presentation to the local Rotary and Mayor Wayne Troxell read a proclamation in their honor. In the afternoon they made an all school presentation at Liberty Common High School before heading to Left Hand Brewing in Longmont for a tour and some refreshments. Later they also visited the monthly meeting of the Rocky Mountain Base of the US Submarine Veterans organization where they were greeted warmly.
Thursday the crew was interviewed by KRDO Radio in the Springs and then attended a County Commissioners meeting where a proclamation was read in their honor. They also visited Mesa Ridge High School, Widefield High School and Truman Elementary School. In the evening Mr. Leroy Landhuis of the Landhuis Company and member of the Colorado Thirty Group, hosted a reception at the El Paso Club in their honor. About forty people were present to meet the sailors and ask questions about their experiences. Many made donations to the Committee to help fund Commissioning week events.
On Friday the sailors were again in Colorado Springs. They had an early phone interview on Nash FM 95.1 followed by school visits to Panorama Middle School and Pikes Peak Elementary. In the evening they attended a reception at the Pioneer Museum where a birthday cake was cut in honor of the Navy’s Birthday. After the reception, a number of supporters joined the sailors for a lively dinner at Paravicini’s Italian Bistro in Colorado Springs West End. The highlight of the evening was the crew members serenading the patrons with a rendition of Anchors Aweigh.
The crew did some sightseeing in Denver on Saturday before attending the Navy Ball in Colorado Springs at night. The theme of this festive event was USS Colorado. About 180 persons attended the celebration of the Navy’s Birthday. All seemed to have a good time and enjoyed meeting the sailors. The Springs Mayor John Struthers was the featured speaker. The sailors headed back to Groton on Sunday.
