On Tuesday evening May 9th the House passed Senate Bill 17-183 which appropriates $100,000 to the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to make grants for the purpose of paying for expenses related to the commissioning of USS Colorado, promoting awareness of USS Colorado within the state; and to support the crew. 

The bill was introduced back in February by Senator Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs and has been with Senate Appropriations Committee until Friday May 5th. The Appropriations Committee acted on the legislation and it moved quickly through the rest of the Senate, finishing with their final vote on Monday. Representative Pete Lee, also of Colorado Springs, joined as co-sponsor and the bill moved through the committees in the House on Monday, with final passage in the House in the evening of Tuesday May 9th. The final vote in the Senate was 29 to 6 and in the House 55 to 10. 

We thank all who took the time to contact their representatives in the General Assembly support of this legislation.

February 28th marked the first milestone for Senate Bill 17-183 introduced by Senator Bob Gardner for support of USS Colorado..Today marked the first reading of the bill in the Local Government Committee. Ten members of the Committee were there to show support for the bill. Committee Member former Senator Bernie Herpin led off the testimony and introduced Chairman JJ Mackin. JJ spoke of the history of previous Colorado’s, the actions of the Committee to date and the efforts of the crew in the construction process and later as they go to sea. The remarks were well received with the Committee voting unanimously for its passage. Click here for a complete text of his remarks.

The bill moves on to the Senate Appropriations Committee for its next hearing. Both Senator Bob Gardner and Senator Larry Crowder of the Local Government Committee attended the boat’s Christening in December. The other members of the Committee are Senators Beth Martinez Humenik, Kerry Donovan and John Kefalas. 

We are sorry to note that World War II Submariner Andy Palenchar passed away on February 19th. Andy qualified in submarines on USS Finback (SS 230) in 1943. During the 9^th war patrol he was the sailor who hoisted LTJG George H. W. Bush aboard Finback after the future President had been shot down in the Pacific. Andy left the Navy after the war but later joined the Army reserves. He was activated for the Korean conflict and remained on active duty serving in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. He retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978.

Andy was a proud submariner. He was active with the Rocky Mountain Base of US Submarine Veterans. In spite of being recently hospitalized he still attended the February Submarine Veterans. He was a great supporter of USS Colorado. He spoke at our History Colorado event in July 2015 and pinned on dolphins for SN Brayden Kane of PCU Colorado in a ceremony held at the State Capitol in December of that year. Always with a twinkle in his eye and a great sea story to tell, he was an incredible person. His service in the Army in both Korea and Vietnam was nothing sort of amazing. He was a true Patriot and will be missed by all who knew him.