To: Americans and Citizens of the World,

 

(In short, 4 individuals illegally pulled down a monument to the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War outside the Colorado State Capitol building,  the city/governor's office has not attempted to put it back and wants to replace it with a monument to a massacre.)

We shouldn't have to make a petition for an issue this simple, but unfortunately this is the current state of Denver Colorado. 

The only way to get this monument back is if you share this petition!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"On Guard" The statue that was pulled down.

We are writing this with the hope that our proposal will resonate with you as profoundly as it has with us. On June 25, 2020, 4 individuals pulled the Civil War monument down at the Colorado State Capitol and fell victim to vandalism;  the monument was defaced and torn down, all within a mere 10 minutes. This act not only put an end to its 111 years of dignified display but also highlighted a concerning trend: the dismantling of monuments without a proper grasp of their historical significance. Such actions compromise both education and our understanding of history, sending a dangerous global message that bypassing due process and encouraging lawlessness is acceptable. 

1. We Propose that the Civil War Monument Should Be Returned to its original spot, including Cannons. 
2. We Believe crimes of vandalism should not be a platform to create change.
3. We Believe as a symbol Of modern-day liberties and freedoms the monument is an important part of American & Colorado history, and the forceable removal and complacency regarding this travesty undermines the importance of we the people.
4. We believe that there should be a Sand Creek Massacre Monument, Just not to take the place of another.
5. We are in firm favor of the creation of a Sand Creek massacre memorial.
6. We Believe in more historical context regarding all angles of History Being applied to the monument.
7. We propose to change the plaques to be more inclusive to all those who served in the Civil War including, those who don't get enough recognition like Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Arabs and Asian Americans of all religions fought under one flag for union and unity.
8. We propose changing of the plaques to depict battles in Colorado in the Civil War accurately and truthfully, omitting Sand Creek as a battle as it was a corruption of the original creator's intent.

Visit our website at https://www.unionandunity.com/ for more detailed information.

Please share this petition If you agree with our message!  Continue Reading ↓↓↓ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monument Creator John D Howland with an unidentified native "Princess" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colorado Civil War monument was designed to remember the fallen Union soldiers in the Civil War. The monument was created a 4 year period from 1905 to finally being dedicated on July 24, 1909, at a cost of $25,000 equating to $942,536 in 2024 by the Colorado Monument Association and particularly driven by the designer of the statue and monument Capt. John Dare Howland and the Colorado Pioneer Society.

  The cannons given to the Colorado Light Artillery battery called the “Chaffee Light Artillery” were presented by President Ulysses S Grant. The cannons were scrapped by the state in 1903 for a "Dollar a wheel" and were saved by a commission created by Gen. Albert H Jones, Maj. James B Thompson and others, through donation efforts and public outcry for the loss of a piece of Colorado history, the cannons were donated to the state by Gen. Albert H Jones as he was the creator of the Chaffee Light Artillery.

The Colorado Civil War monument, in its original grandeur, stood as a poignant tribute to the brave Colorado Civil War soldiers who selflessly laid down their lives for the noble cause of preserving the Union. It served as a tangible reminder of the immense sacrifice and the relentless perseverance of the 2,672,341 Union men and women across the United States, who valiantly fought to secure the freedoms we cherish today. This monument was a solemn pledge, an eternal flame of remembrance, ensuring that the hardship, sacrifice, and unyielding spirit of these courageous individuals would never fade from our collective memory.

In 1999, there was a crucial appeal to provide additional context to the statue, aiming to reexamine and reinterpret the involvement of the Colorado Cavalry in the Sand Creek Massacre, particularly because the statue bore an inscription referencing this event. To address this, a plaque was thoughtfully placed at the base of the Civil War Monument at the Colorado State Capitol at the request of descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre. This plaque played a vital role in offering a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the intricate and contentious history and the events it sought to memorialize. Regrettably, this valuable context was overlooked and dismissed by vandals, who, lacking a proper understanding of the monument’s intent and significance, ultimately marred its purpose and message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gov. Jared Polis wished to have the monument reinstalled. Gov. Polis issued the following statement about the toppling of the statue:

"I am outraged at the damage to a statue that commemorates the Union heroes of the Civil War who fought and lost their lives to end slavery. This statue will be repaired, and we will use every tool at our disposal to work with Denver Police and to hold accountable those responsible for the damage whether they are hooligans, white supremacists, confederate sympathizers, or drunk teenagers. This monument is designed to commemorate Colorado's involvement in the Civil War, of course, Colorado was on the Union side, and it lists a number of names and of infantry that served from Colorado and some battles that took place here during that time," - Gov. Jared Polis.

In 2021 it was proposed to replace the monument with a different statue to the Sand Creek Massacre despite the governor's and descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre's earlier wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is our goal to take a stand and preserve the history of our nation and the struggle it took to make it a place where we are able to express our freedoms and beliefs in the way that we do every day. 

It has now been 4 years with the Colorado Capitol Building Advisory Committee trying to decide what will take the Civil War Monuments place.  We propose that the monument should be reinstated for these reasons. 

We need to respect and remember all important events from our past, like the Sand Creek Massacre. But putting one memorial on top of another makes both seem less important. Both events are key parts of our history and should have their own special places. It's not right to take one away just because we can, especially if it's because of a crime. Each history is valuable and should stand independently of each other to properly address the history in full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In closing the Civil War statue and cannon should be reinstalled in the pure interest of preserving the important history of those before us

Please join us in signing this petition, standing up for the preservation of our history, and ensuring future generations have the opportunity to learn from reflect, and right the wrongs of people in our history.