What began in 1918 with Boulder County civic, veterans and government groups as a road to honor area veterans who served during World War I, finally became a named reality earlier this year. On March 18 and March 23, Colorado’s House and Senate members lead by sponsors Kyle Brown and Junie Joseph/Judy Amabile and Katie Wallace, respectively, voted to designate Arapahoe from Highway 287 to 28th Street as the “Road of Remembrance.”
Boulder County Commissioners
Originally, funds were raised in 1928 by the Boulder Lions Club to begin work on the “Gateway” featuring two large stone pillars flanking this intersection. Although the Pillars, as they became known, were constructed along with an adjacent park beautifying this entrance, the Great Depression halted further progress. Until recently, this roadway was not formally recognized or dedicated as a memorial highway.
Boulder Rotary Club Past President Bill Meyer, has chaired a committee of interested Rotarians, members of Historic Boulder, History Colorado, DAR, and Legion Post #10, to address the issue of these deteriorating Pillars. They’ve worked in conjunction with the CDOT, Boulder County along with the cities of Lafayette and Boulder.
The Joint Resolution reads in part, “the spirit of the initial project lives on in the civic, veterans and governmental organization members who are working, over 100 years later, to safeguard this chapter in history.” With its passage, CDOT has authorization to accept, and expend, gifts and donations, e.g. for signage marking the designated section as the “Road of Remembrance.”
To prevent the Pillars further deterioration, and with the expansion of the Gateway intersection, they will be relocated to the SW corner of Arapahoe and 95th. This Atlas Valley Remembrance Plaza location will feature interpretive signage along with a listing of those Boulder county veterans who served in WW I.