Post Events
Post 1980 is active in many local community events in Woodland Park and Teller County. Below is a brief description of some of these activities. See the CALENDAR section of the web page for a chronological schedule of events for this year.
Adopt a Highway. We have adopted a 2 mile section of Highway 67 between Divide and Cripple Creek that we clean up as needed during the year. If you are traveling this route some Saturday and see a bunch pf workers wearing orange T shirts, honk; that’s us. Incidentally, Post 1980 was successful in getting the State of Colorado d to declare Highway 67 as a POW/MIA memorial highway.
Afghanistan Donation Boxes. Donation boxes are placed at the entrance of Walgreens drug store in Woodland Park to collect personal items such as toiletries. These are forwarded to Red Cross stations where our active duty soldiers are stationed. It’s always rewarding to receive a letter form a soldier tanking us for bringing a bit of home to his station.
American Legion Baseball. The American Legion sponsors a very extensive baseball program for male youths. In the past Post 1980 has supported local teams and tournaments in Woodland Park. Currently local youth teams are focusing on other venues and there is no programs in Woodland Park this year.
Annual Meeting. Each January we have a planning meeting to set the budget for the year and establish which programs we want to support. All members are invited.
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs for high school juniors. Colorado programs are normally held in Pueblo in early May. Program participants are divided into subgroups referred to as cities. The participants elect state-level officials mirroring how our government works. Students engage in a number of political activities such as running for office, electing officials, drafting and debating bills, and making motions. Post 1980 pays for tuition to this program for students it nominates as well as provides a college scholarship have for those completing the program and going on to higher education.
Christmas Party. For members and family, the post holds a Christmas party in December (normally in Cripple Creek).
Cruise Above the Clouds. This 2 day car show held on the 2nd Saturday in September, sponsored by Woodland Park. It includes over 200 vintage automobiles. Post 1980 mans a “Poker Stop” in Cripple Creek for this event each year.
Facebook. See us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanlegion1980/
Flags at Lions Park For national holidays associated with Veterans, the post sets up ~ 50 American Flags around Lions Park in Woodland Park.
Flag Retirement Ceremony On Flag Day each year, June 14, Post 1980 holds a formal Flag Retirement ceremony, normally with local Boy Scouts invited, respectfully burning American flags no longer fit for display. If you have flags in unusable condition, contact us; we will retrieve and store the flag until our retirement ceremony.
Fossil Beds Tour In September, in conjunction with a Welcome Home Warriors event, Post 1980 leads a tour for participants of the Florissant Fossil Beds National monument
Honor Guard Post 1980 provides an honor guard for local events upon request. This normally includes flag bearers and riflemen. Events we participate in each year include local Memorial day ceremonies at local cemeteries, Veterans day celebration, July 4 Woodland Park ceremony, Salute to Veterans sessions in Teller County, Victor Gold Rush parade, and Woodland Park Christmas parade. If you have a local event and need an honor guard, contact us.
Independence Day Booth On July 4, the City of Woodland Park sponsors an “Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration from 9:30 AM to 3PM followed by a fireworks display starting at 9:30 PM. The day time event includes many local organization booths. Post 1980 provides a booth with information about the American Legion, and a food booth; typically offering pulled pork sandwiches, brats, baked beans, hot dogs, and soft drinks/ water. For 2016, food will be offered on a donation basis (no prices set). Post 1980 also posts American flags at Lions park on July 4th, and provides an honor guard for the ~ noon Woodland Park ceremony.
Memorial Day In preparation for Memorial Day Post 1980, in conjunction with the local VFW chapter 6051, places small American Flags on veteran’s gravesites at cemeteries throughout Teller County. On Memorial Day a veteran’s gravesite in Woodland Park cemetery is selected for honoring. Open to the public, Post 1980 provides a 9 gun salute and bugler at the event, including a brief ceremony. Post 1980 also posts American flags at Lions Park that day.
Oratorical Contest the American Legion sponsors an oratorical contest each year. High school students under age 20 are eligible. Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are eight to 10 minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest. Winners at the Post level can move up to the State and then National levels. Scholarships are offered to winners at each level.
Pig Roast/ Silent Auction This is the Post’s major fundraiser, held in June, normally at the Crystola Roadhouse. Each year we cook a whole pig in a specially designed (by the members) charcoal cooker. Members donate side dishes and deserts. For a nominal fee, the community can partake of a wonderful meal and participate in the silent auction. Local merchants donate over 100 items for the silent auction each year. There is also a special POW/MIA ceremony at the event. Note: all proceeds go to local Teller County programs
Post Family Picnic Each August the post has a picnic for members and guests as an opportunity to get together and play. The public is invited. Dependent on the location there is also the opportunity to camp overnight, with tents or RVs.
Raffle As a fundraiser, the post conducts a raffle each year, awarded at our Veterans Day event. Prizes are $400, $200 and $100. Tickets are $1 or 6 for $5. Note: all proceeds go to local Teller County programs
Salvation Army Bell Ringing Each year in late November/ early December member spend several sessions ringing the bell for Salvation Army donations at a local Woodland Park location. Proceeds go to the Aspen Mine center/ Salvation Army. It is not always warm, but always rewarding. In one recent session, someone came up with a French horn and offered to play Christmas carols; then another to sing.
September 11 Post 1980 conducts a ceremony at Lions Park in remembrance of those who perished on that day. The public is invited.
Shooting Events At least once per year Post 1980 participates in a Turkey Shoot as guest of the Teller County Shooting Society (TCCS) there range in Cripple Creek. The post also supports the Teller County 4-H Shooting Club.
Silent Auction See Pig Roast / Silent auction above
Toys for a Donation One of our senior members (Jim Spieth) makes wooden toys and offers them for a donation. Jim offers his toys at many of our local events. Proceeds go to either the American Legion Auxiliary or McCandless Veterans home in Florence.
Terminal Vets hospice visit Post 1980 has a team ready to visit dying veterans upon request of the family. If you need such a service, contact us at Info@post1980.org.
Veterans Day On November 11 each year Post 1980 s sponsors a free dinner for all Veterans and their families. Food is donated, prepared and served by the members. We also draw winners for our raffle ($400, $200 and $100). Note: all proceeds go to local Teller County programs
Veterans Home Visit Each spring we visit the McCandless Veterans Nursing home in Florence, CO. We bring donuts and clothes donated by the community for use by these vets, spending time with some our most senior veterans.
Veterans Funeral participation At the request of the family, members are available to honor veterans at their funerals, with by member attendance, flag presentation to the family, bugler(s) to play taps, or gun salutes. If you have such a need, contact us at info@post1980.org.
WPHS Scholarship Post 1980 will award scholarship(s) to deserving seniors at Woodland Park High School. Awards are $1,000 each towards college expenses. To apply, contact us at info@post1980.org.