There are all kinds of stories that get forgotten in the fog of war, stories that need to be retold to give those who served the respect they deserve.
That’s the ethos behind Winter Warriors, the History Colorado Center’s, 1200 Broadway in Denver, latest exhibition, which is a tribute to World War II’s 10th Mountain Division — the first American troops specifically trained for mountain warfare.
“Winter Warriors isn’t just about combat in World War II, it’s also a story of creativity, resilience, ingenuity and the human condition,” said Dr. Chris Juergens, Head of Curatorial Services and Anschutz Curator of Military History at History Colorado, in a provided statement. “This exhibition puts a human face on the inhumanity of war, and highlights the price of freedom that US servicemen and women continue to be willing to pay on behalf of their fellow citizens.”
The exhibit opened on Veterans Day and truly takes an expansive and intimate look at the division, from their training at Camp Hale in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains through their breakthrough against the Nazi German Army in the mountains of Italy. The division paid the ultimate price during its time in the fight — about one-third of its members were wounded or killed.
According to provided information, the exhibit relied on resources from the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center — a collection largely donated by veterans of the unit and maintained by History Colorado and the Denver Public Library — and features some never-before-seen items.
Some of the special items on display include:
- A fez taken from Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini’s Italian villa when it was occupied by American troops in 1945.
- The bow and arrows used by one of the division’s archers.
- The uniforms worn by soldiers in training and in combat — as well as those worn by the Women’s Army Corps at Camp Hale and Red Cross volunteers in Italy.
- Pieces of art constructed, carved, and etched by soldiers at Camp Hale and on the front lines.
The aim of the exhibit is visitors come away with a greater appreciation of a story they may have never heard before.
“This is a chance for visitors to embark on a multi-sensory journey that explores the history of the 10th Mountain Division from its origins to its combat service in more detail than ever before seen in an exhibition,” Juergens stated. “Even those familiar with the story of these famed Winter Warriors will be captivated by new details, photographs and objects that bring this history to life.”
Find full details atwww.historycolorado.org/exhibit/winter-warriors.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with The Last Waltz
When we lost The Band singer/songwriter Robbie Robertson in August of this year, we lost one of rock’s great troubadours. And that loss will make the annual Thanksgiving tribute to the music of The Band, The Last Waltz, even more special.
The 19th annual Last Waltz Revisited will be held at the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. For those unfamiliar, the concert is a recreation of The Band’s final group performance, which was immortalized by Martin Scorsese in a documentary of the same name. It’s a great communal opportunity to celebrate one of the best rock songbooks.
Get tickets at www.livenation.com.
Get a closer look at the Middle East in Northglenn
It’s been difficult lately to turn on the news and not hear something about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. But that kind of exposure often leaves the stories of the people behind.
The City of Northglenn aims to present a different picture of the region with a screening of Rick Ray’s travel film, “The Promised Land, Adventures in the Middle East: Israel, Jordan and Turkey.” The film will be screened at the Parsons Theatre, 1 East Memorial Parkway, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21. Visit https://northglennarts.org/for more information.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — St. Paul and the Broken Bones at Ellie Caulkins
Soul music is one of the most elastic music genres we have – there is room for all manner of approaches and subgenres. One of the best examples of this is Alabama’s St. Paul and The Broken Bones, a group that started out with a more traditional style and has evolved into a great purveyor of alternative soul. Their debut album is still one of my favorites, but this year’s “Angles in Science Fiction” is a solid and innovative exploration of the group’s sound.
In support of the record, St. Paul and The Broken Bones will be stopping by the Ellie Caulkins Opera House,1400 Curtis St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18. They’ll be joined by alt-singer/songwriter Maggie Rose, so make sure to get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.