Colorado Freedom Memorial
Honorary Chairpersons
Honorable Bill Ritter
Governor
State of Colorado
Mr. Mike Coffman
Colorado Secretary of State
Rep. Mark Udall
2nd Congressional District
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Ed Perlmutter
7th Congressional District
U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Morgan Carroll
House District 36
Colorado House of Representatives
Mr. George Sakato
Recipient
Congressional Medal of Honor
Mrs. Terry Cooper
Mother
Lcpl Thomas Slocum
KIA - Operation Iraqi freedom
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About the Monument |
Description of the Project
The Colorado Freedom Memorial will be constructed of glass that will reflect
Colorado's mountains and blue skies. It will be approximately 14-feet tall and
100-feet wide. Each of the names of the over 6,000 Coloradans killed or
missing in action will be etched in the glass panels dedicated to the specific
war in which they fought. In the case of the MIA’s, their names will be etched
in a special panel of glass. Each entry will contain the individual's name and
hometown.
As the visitor looks at the glass, it will reflect back his/her own image so
that the visitor actually becomes a part of the memorial. The height of the
glass and the reflected surroundings will seem to loom over the visitor and
then fade away — all symbolic of service men and women falling in action.
The wars represented in this stunning monument are all separated from Colorado
by water. To maintain that division, a stream of water moves along the walking
path between the visitor and the memorial wall. Marble markers like those found
in military cemeteries around the world will be located behind the glass. The
memorial will be located on a two-acre parcel near Buckley Air Force Base in a
new park being built by the City of Aurora. Aurora has contributed a generous
lease for the land as their support for the project.
About the Designer
Kristoffer Kenton graduated from Kansas State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Architecture Planning and Design. He began his career with Fentress
Bradburn Architects in Denver, Colorado in 1997 as an intern. Upon his graduation he
accepted an offer of employment and began working full time in June of 1998. As a young
designer, he participated in a wide variety of projects and gained valuable experience
in his field. Working on projects in the United States, Germany, Austria, Spain, and
the Middle East provided an opportunity to further develop his design style. His design
work on the new Vienna International Airport competition was recognized with a citation
in 1999. In 1999 Kristoffer accepted an opportunity to work in Frankfurt, Germany.
While there, he was the lead designer in the competition for a new high speed train
station in Cologne, Germany. Upon successful completion of this project, he returned
to Fentress Bradburn Architects. He left Fentress Bradburn in 2001 to establish
Kristoffer Kenton Design. Kristoffer is currently the Senior Designer at SEM Architects
in Denver and oversees all design activities for the firm.
"The memorial is meant to be a symbolic gesture of the fallen men and women, one in which
the visitor can truly experience the magnitude of people effected by the loss of our own.
As one reflects on the loss of their loved one, their own image is reflected in the glass
panels, and as the visitors accumulate the true number of people effected by these losses
are now represented within the memorial.
"The folding of the glass panels serves two purposes; the first is to be representative
of the tectonic folding of the mountains and the beautiful landscape that we have in
Colorado, while the second is to create a sense of instability as the visitor approaches
the memorial, just as it is when the world is at war. The memorial is meant to be a place
of reflection and remembrance, and will be a calm, subdued experience, one in which the
visitor can sit quietly and reflect upon their lost loved ones."
— Kristoffer Kenton —
Interesting facts and history of America's most unique military tribute
- The Colorado Freedom Memorial will be made of glass and stand 14 feet
tall and 100 feet long. It has underground foundation for another 50 feet.
- The panels of glass that make up the memorial lean forward and back,
representative of men falling in action. A trough of water runs in front
of the memorial, representative of the oceans that separate Colorado from
the fields of battle.
- Over 6000 names will appear on the wall. They will be grouped by war,
but names will not be alphabetically listed. This will allow for additions
as they are discovered.
- A section of the wall will stand back from the main wall. This section
will contain the names of Colorado's MIAs.
- A two-acre park will surround the memorial, allowing for private and
public ceremonies in honor of those lost in war.
- This will be the first memorial in America dedicated to ALL wars, ALL
branches of service and containing hometowns as well as individual names.
- The total cost of $1.5 million dollars is being raised by volunteers and
100% of funds collected are going to the memorial's construction.
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