Freedom Flies High

Colorado National Monument celebrated July 4th with another spectacular climb of Independence Monument and posting of the American Flag at 450 feet above the valley floor.

Twenty-eight climbers were led by eleven members of Mesa County’s Technical Search and Rescue Team on the annual climb. The climbers began hiking at 5:00 a.m. to reach the base of the monolith. Climbing began around 6:30 a.m. for the first group of climbers. All climbers had reached the top by 11:45 a.m. Together, they then raised the American flag.

Across Monument Canyon at the Independence Monument Overlook, two trumpeters from the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra played the Star Spangled Banner as the flag was being raised. The notes carried across the canyon and reached the climbers on top of Independence Monument. Approximately 200 visitors were at the overlook and in the immediate vicinity on adjacent trails to witness the event. Several dozen more were on the trails below. All erupted in cheers as the flag unfurled and the trumpeters completed their last notes. This July 4th tradition began nearly 100 years ago with John Otto in 1911.

All climbers were safely back to the base of the monolith by approximately 2:30 p.m. Colorado National Monument experienced an exceptionally busy July 4th weekend, with record visitation. Many visitors came to see this year’s climb and flag raising. The flag will stay posted atop Independence Monument for one week. Then the Mesa County Technical Search and Rescue Team will make a quick climb to remove it until next year.

Depending on the weather, visitors and locals will be able to see the flag during both day and night due to the full moon.

More information on this annual tradition can be found at www.nps.gov/colm , or by clicking on the high resolution Independence Monument picture on www.nps.gov.

Photos of the 2009 climb have also been posted to the park’s website in the photo gallery.