Camp Hale designation honors service members

I am writing to express my deep appreciation for President Joe Biden’s steadfast commitment to conservation as a core American value, and especially his historic declaration of Camp Hale as a national monument slightly more than one year ago.

The Votevets Foundation in Colorado is grateful for the president’s dedication to honoring our state’s veterans and preserving our natural heritage.

President Biden’s designation of Camp Hale as a national monument holds profound significance for Colorado’s veterans. A former training ground for the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, Camp Hale is not only a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of our service members but also a cherished part of our state’s history.

Across the country, President Biden has protected nearly 1.5 million acres of public lands through national monument designations. He is on pace to become the greatest conservation president in modern American history, but only if he keeps up the good work.

The president’s broader conservation efforts, such as his commitment to renewable energy development on public land, mean less dependence on foreign oil and a more serious approach to tackling the threat climate change poses to our country.

The Votevets Foundation also is looking forward to the president building upon his record of success in Colorado — working alongside

Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper — to protect the incredibly beautiful and wild Dolores River Canyon Country in western Colorado. Places like this provide veterans with an important place to visit and heal.

— Marc Gonzales, Colorado Springs

— Editor’s note: Gonzales is a Navy veteran.