![]() The motorcade was made up of dozens of vehicles - including a bomb squad, paramedics, military personnel and local police, among others - all of whom were to accompany the president to the Camp Hale site about an hour’s drive to the east and south along Interstate 70 and then up Highway 24.Ī number of local residents stood along Cooley Mesa Road to wave on the motorcade, and many continued to drive up to the jet center to take pictures of the famed airplane after the president had departed. Vilsack, who visited Eagle County earlier this summer and has been an advocate for the Camp Hale designation, was also in the greeting group.įollowing a brief conversation with local legislators, Biden entered a Suburban waiting on the tarmac and set off for Camp Hale in a presidential motorcade. Joe Neguse were all at the stairs to meet the president as he disembarked the plane. Upon landing, Biden was met by a group of Colorado’s leading democratic legislators. The signature white-and-sky-blue exterior of Air Force One glinted in the sun as it descended westward below the surrounding peaks, with the large “United States of America” and American flag decals clearly announcing the arrival of the president. The president departed from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland Wednesday morning to begin a three-state trip in the West starting in Eagle County. White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams talks with President Joe Biden Wednesday’s signing ceremony for the new Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.įormer high school classmates say Va. Helicopters circled the landing area throughout the morning before the president’s arrival and were accompanied by security detail on the ground, including two snipers in the center of the tarmac scanning for potential threats. Wednesday, when Biden landed on the Eagle County Regional Airport tarmac on Air Force One. Vilsack added that this would “temporarily prohibit the issuance of new prospecting permits and leases from federal minerals and the staking of new mineral claims and mining claims, during which we will do a careful environmental analysis with much public input.” Air Force One lands in Eagle County United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that the department was working with the Department of the Interior to “initiate a conversation and consideration of a 20-year withdrawal of the Thompson Divide area for mining.” We’re just keeping things as they’ve been for a long time.” “Let me be clear, there’s no current or planned oil exploration production in the area. “We’re standing with Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers who have forged generations to protect beautiful streams, aspen groves, and the Thompson Divide area,” he said. In his remarks, Biden also announced steps to conserve 225,000 acres of the Thompson Divide, an announcement that was met with loud applause and cheering from the gathered crowd. When you think about the natural beauty of Colorado and the history of our nation, you find it here,” Biden said. “It’s the first new national monument of my presidency under this authority. The monument is to honor the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained there to fight in Italy in World War II. President Joe Biden speaks at the Camp Hale – Continental Divide National Monument into effect Wednesday. President, for your administration’s first national monument designation.”īennet, alongside many Colorado leaders and stakeholders - from county commissioners, tribal leaders, conservationists, ranchers, hunters, anglers, recreational users and more - has been working tirelessly for over a decade to bring protections to the former 10th Mountain Division training site and the surrounding Tenmile mountain range. “If I do say so myself - and perhaps speaking for myself - you have excellent taste, Mr. Forest Service employees, Eagle County locals and statewide dignitaries, all gathered for the designation of The Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. Michael Bennet on Wednesday to a large round of applause from U.S. President, welcome to Camp Hale, welcome to Colorado,” proclaimed Sen. The monument is to honor the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained there to fight in Italy in World War II.Ĭhris Dillmann/Vail Daily On a historic day for Eagle County and Colorado, president travels to 9,200 feet to create Camp Hale-Continental Divide National MonumentĬAMP HALE, Eagle County - “Mr. President Joe Biden signs a declaration creating the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument Wednesday at Camp Hale above Red Cliff. ![]()
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