Doris Tracy's Flygirl Maquette

Maquette of flygirl Doris Tracy, by Sculptor Joan Hanley of  La Veta Colorado..

Hometown Heroes of Huerfano County and Doris Tracy Memorial Project

Tremendous Welcome Home for

Hometown Heroes at Community Center

Walsenburg, CO November 13, 2011

Young "Journey Home"
participant carries colors
during touching
commencement  ceremony.

   The Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon was quite a “Welcome Home!” for Huerfano Veterans this past Saturday.  U.S. Army Veteran Dick Chenalt MC’d for the group of well over 100 who gathered to honor Huerfano County’s rich heritage of Veterans who have served the U.S.A. in conflicts over the decades.

  Speakers and presentations included: Opening and Presentation of Colors by Deb William’s Journey Home Kids; a “Tribute to Our Veterans” by the newly confirmed as “permanent, full-time” Walsenburg Police Chief, James Chamberlain, U.S. Air Force Reservist; a Progress Report by Sculptor, Joan Hanley on the developing Doris Tracy Memorial Project; comments regarding the Colorado Patriot Guard by U.S. Navy Veteran, Gary Baldwin; a special award to Deb Williams of “Journey Home”, recognition of John Mall Honor Students assisting in the event, music, great food and presentation of other awards to Veterans in attendance. 

New Walsenburg Police Chief, James Chamberlain, U.S.
Air Force Reservist, looks on with Tracy maquette to his left.



  One of the highlights of the evening was when Monica Bond (16) representing Bravo Company of “Journey Home” presented a U.S. Flag, flown in Afghanistan to Charlene Baldwin”.  Bond, a teen with Deb Williams’ “Journey Home” organization, stated that “the Mission of Bravo Company was to support and serve those who came before us.”  And they did just that!



Many people attended the luncheon,

   This event was well attended at over 100 and next week, on Saturday at 1 p.m., at Adventure Trails, the Hometown Heroes group will be packing up care packages to be shipped over seas to those who are currently serving.  They say they could sure use lots of contributions such as beef jerkey, candy and nuts.

Parts of this article were previously published in the Huerfano World Journal.

Doris' Daughters and Joan Hanley

 Walsenburg, CO November 15, 2010

At the Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon November 13, 2010, Hanley poses
with Doris' daughters with her Congressional Gold Medal.  They are standing
in front of the small Maquette of Doris that has recently been used in the process
of creating styrofoam enlargements that will be used to build the mold for the
actual much larger monument.

   Sculptor, Joan Hanley has been touring the County with her miniature likenesses of Airforce Veteran, Doris Tracy and the little girl who dreams of becoming a flyer.  Hanley met with Tracy's daughters, Glenna Tracy and Julie Geiser (of Alamosa) at the the Hometown Heroes' Luncheon in Walsenburg (over 100 people) Saturday, where she spoke, and then addressed a smaller group at the La Veta Library, Sunday afternoon, to promote the poject and politely ask for donations.  To help make this memorial come to fruition, you can mail your check to The Sangre De Cristo Center for Youth, 129 Kansas Avenue.  Be sure to write that you are supporting the “Doris Tracy Memorial Fund”.  Questions about this project can be directed to the sculptor, Joan Hanley at 719-742-3331 or the SCCY Board Chairperson, DeEtta Lessar, at 719-742-3285.



To assist in their mother's Memorial Project, Doris'
daughters brought Joan numerous professional pictures
taken of their mother in her early years.



Parts of this article were previously Published in the Huerfano World Journal.