Wait…Colorado Springs Never Had a Veterans Week Until Now?!
Colorado Springs is home to roughly 95,000 service members, veterans, and military families across five military installations, making it one of the most military connected cities in the country. So why has it taken this long to have a full Veterans Week? In this episode of Springs and Things, Carly and Lauren sit down with longtime Channel 5 news anchor turned community storyteller Andy Koen to talk about the city's first ever Veterans Week, how a canceled Veterans Day Parade was rescued in under five weeks, and what makes this year's celebration especially significant as the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps all mark their 250th anniversaries. Plus: behind the scenes newsroom stories, a Bemis School of Art class your kids will love, and a Rising Tide Society retreat for Colorado Springs creative entrepreneurs.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Andy Koen breaks down every event happening during Colorado Springs' inaugural Veterans Week, from the free Purple Heart exhibit at the Fine Arts Center on Friday to the Return in Their Honor Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 8, and the formal wreath laying ceremony at 11:11am on November 11. You will learn what makes the Purple Heart exhibit so rare (the original artwork used to design the medal lives right here in Colorado Springs at the ANA Money Museum), where to stand along the Tejon Street parade route for the best view, where to park, and what to expect at the more formal Veterans Day observance. Andy also explains the Salute from the Springs flag campaign, which lets community members sponsor a flag downtown in honor of a veteran or active duty service member for a $25 donation, with all proceeds going directly toward parade costs.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and newsroom reunion banter
04:00 Meet Andy Koen: 21 years at Channel 5 and counting connections in Colorado Springs
07:00 Why Colorado Springs needed a full Veterans Week and why now
10:00 The Purple Heart exhibit at the Fine Arts Center: what it is and why it matters
15:00 How a canceled Veterans Day Parade was rescued in under five weeks
20:00 Insider tips for watching the Return in Their Honor parade on November 8
25:00 The wreath laying ceremony on November 11: tone, timeline, and etiquette
28:00 The Salute from the Springs flag campaign: how to participate
32:00 The 250th anniversaries of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps and this year's grand marshals
36:00 Picks of the Week: Hybrid AI Creatures class at the Bemis School of Art and the Rising Tide Society retreat
Veterans Week Colorado Springs: Full Event Guide
Purple Heart Exhibit at the Fine Arts Center Date: Friday (one day only, free community event) The ANA Money Museum, located near the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs, is loaning its collection of original artwork used in the design and engraving of the Purple Heart Medal to the Fine Arts Center for a single day free exhibit. The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in the United States Armed Forces, dating back to George Washington and the Revolutionary War. This is a rare, do not miss opportunity to see these artifacts up close.
Return in Their Honor Veterans Day Parade Date: Saturday, November 8 The parade follows the traditional route along Tejon Street, running north to south from Saint Vrain Street to Vermejo Street. This year's grand marshals represent the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps in honor of all three branches' 250th anniversaries: Colonel Ed Matitis from Fort Carson, Rear Admiral Sean Bailey from U.S. Space Command, and Major General Sean Day from the Marine Corps.
Insider tips from Andy: The Tejon Street revitalization project has widened sidewalks between Colorado Avenue and Iowa Street, putting spectators closer to the action than ever before. The area near the Pioneers Museum and the Blossom of the Rockies offers covered archways if the weather turns. Parking is available in the St. Mary's Cathedral Knights of Columbus lot one block from the parade route, and in the city parking garages at Cascade and Bijou and at Kiowa and Nevada.
Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Date: Monday, November 11 at 11:11am A formal observance featuring the posting of colors, a color guard, and a wreath laying ceremony. Mute your phone, bring your camera, and come ready to appreciate the gravity of the moment. The American Legion Post Number 5 and the Pikes Peak Detachment of the Marine Corps League will both be participating.
Salute from the Springs Flag Campaign Running throughout Veterans Week, 1,111 American flags measuring 8 by 12 inches have been displayed throughout downtown Colorado Springs. For a $25 donation, community members can sponsor a flag in honor of a veteran, active duty service member, or reservist in their life, complete with a name tag listing their name, branch, and service details. All proceeds go directly toward parade costs. This is designed to become a lasting part of the Veterans Day Parade tradition in Colorado Springs.
About Andy Koen:
Andy Koen spent 21 years as a news anchor at Channel 5 in Colorado Springs before transitioning into community storytelling and event work. A Pueblo native who chose to stay in the Pikes Peak region, Andy now works with John O'Donnell, the organizer behind the Colorado Springs Saint Patrick's Day Parade, the Mountain Springs Parade of Lights, and the Pikes Peak Rodeo Parade, to bring Veterans Week to life for the first time.
Picks of the Week:
Hybrid AI Creatures at the Bemis School of Art (Lauren's pick) A one day class at the Bemis School of Art at the Fine Arts Center for kids ages 9 to 12. Students use AI to dream up a creature concept, draw it, and then hand sew it into a stuffed animal. It is happening on November 15. Find details and registration at the Bemis School of Art website.
Rising Tide Society Business Refreshers Retreat (Carly's pick) A full day retreat on February 7 designed for Colorado Springs creative entrepreneurs. Topics include resetting your business vision, setting 12-week goals, clarifying your brand story, and building authentic collaborations. Tickets and details are available through the Rising Tide Colorado Springs Instagram page.
Sponsors:
Core Collective is Downtown Colorado Springs' Pilates studio for all levels, with welcoming instructors, great energy, and a community that keeps you coming back. Use promo code SPRINGSANDTHINGS at checkout for three classes at $30. Visit corecollectivecos.com.
Why Wait Stories is Lauren's own legacy filmmaking and storytelling video business, serving families, local businesses, schools, and nonprofits across Colorado Springs. If you have a story worth preserving, Lauren brings a journalist's eye and a storyteller's heart to every project. Learn more at whywaitstories.com.
Key Quotes:
"When your kids are at school or you're at work, we are neighbors with a lot of veterans." -- Andy Koen
"A canceled parade was not going to be something that everyone was willing to just accept." -- Andy Koen
"We want this to be our community's very visual way of showing our veterans that we appreciate them." -- Andy Koen
About Springs and Things:
Springs and Things is Colorado Springs' go-to local podcast for dining, arts, events, and community stories. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a five star review, and share this episode with someone who loves The Springs as much as we do.
