Penrose, Colorado
Stretched between two Vietnam War helicopters are big letters: “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The letters are covered with 58,272 glued-on pennies, one for each American killed in the war. The memorial-makers tried to use only pennies minted during 1965-1971, the war’s deadliest years.
The big steel letters were made by students in the Canon City High School metal shop. Before being glued into place, all 58,272 pennies were first given a good scrubbing in a cement mixer.
The pennies are part of a larger veterans display that also includes a memorial wall (with no pennies). Plans are still in the works for a Wounded Warrior sculpture, featuring a soldier carrying another wounded soldier to one of the helicopters.
Col. Leo S. Boston War Memorial Park
Address:
Directions: Col. Leo S. Boston War Memorial Park. On the south side of US Hwy 50, either 7.5 miles east of downtown Canon City, or 3.5 miles west of US 50’s intersection with Hwy 115. When you see the Vietnam-era helicopters, turn south onto Decker Drive.
Admission:Free
Story downloaded from: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/42489
CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 
Good old U.S. 50!
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Great story shows real patriotic feelings.
On Thu, Apr 7, 2022 at 8:55 PM CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website wrote:
> pdoggbiker posted: ” Penrose, Colorado Stretched between two Vietnam War > helicopters are big letters: “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The letters are covered > with 58,272 glued-on pennies, one for each American killed in the war. The > memorial-makers tried to use only penni” >
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I’m very impressed at the work that went into this! Two Tour Army Vet, 68,69
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I think that is a wonderful remembrance. I can’t wait to see it
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More on Leo Boston (MIA since 1966, identified in 2011 (45 years later!)):
– https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/4889/LEO-S-BOSTON/
– https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/b/b040.htm
And the park (the penny-letters are near the Cobra:)
– https://www.fremontco.com/parks/colonel-leo-sidney-boston-war-memorial-park-photo-gallery
– https://www.nationalwarmemorialregistry.org/memorials/col-leo-sidney-boston-war-memorial-park/
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Don’t forget that we are now in our 70’s…Who will go 10 years from now? Most of the American people could care less about memorials or Veterans. God Bless us all.
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Great work!
Sent from my iPhone
>
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If not for memorials like this only the next of kin would know and understand the sacrifices made by our military during this war.
God Bless those patriots.
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It is always good to see these memorials, events, gatherings and social functions. I only wish they had come sooner for the vets who couldn’t navigate the transition back into “The world” 50 years ago. There might be more of them around today if that had happened
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Dear friend, you school me with every post. 58,272 pennies. WOW! Thank you!
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