Vail statue honors military, ski industry

VAIL, Colorado – The bronze sculpture honoring the 10th Mountain Division marches 12 1/2 feet tall in Slifer Plaza in Vail, Colorado. It pays tribute to the 18,000 brave soldiers who trained for the U.S. Army in harsh mountain conditions in nearby Camp Hale in preparation for alpine battle during World War II.

Upon their return to the United States, some of these veterans played a significant role in the shaping of the U.S. ski industry. One of Vail’s founding fathers, Pete Seibert, was a ski trooper, so it is fitting that a memorial commemorating the bravery and service of the 10th Mountain Division found a home in Vail by the Covered Bridge.

The returning veterans mapped ski trails, became ski instructors, ski patrollers, members of the U.S. Ski Team, avalanche researchers, and ski gear technicians and designers.

This 7,000-pound bronze sculpture was conceived by Colorado artist Scott Stearman and Donald E. Traynor, the president of the Dured E. Townsend Memorial Fund and also a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division. The sculpture depicts the ski trooper marching in the typical winter white camouflage gear, goggles, rifle, and ski equipment. Stearman’s model for the ski trooper was then enlarged to the present work by bronze sculptor Victor Issa.

This memorial was commissioned by the Dured E. Townsend Memorial Fund of the 10th Mountain Division and dedicated in November, 1997. Dured E. Townsend was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a commanding officer of the 10th Mountain Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic mission in the North Apennine Mountains of Italy in April 1945. Ultimately, 949 ski troopers were killed and 4,500 were injured during World War II.

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To learn more about the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division visit the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum, which is online at http://www.skimuseum.net.

Molly Eppard is Vail’s art in public places coordinator.