MONTE VISTA - It was a beautiful Wednesday morning on June 11, as City of Monte Vista, the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce, and regents from the Arizona Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park in Monte Vista. 

The ceremony was held for a plaque placed in the park. The plaque was a special thank you to the National Daughters of the American Revolution. It was sponsored by the DAR Buckeye Valley Chapter No. 8039, Buckeye, Ariz. The Monte Vista Community Fund dedicated the plaque to the chapter, for a special projects grant that was given to the Faith Hinkley Memorial Park in 2019. The grant was originally applied for by former MV resident Colette Skeff, who attended the ceremony by phone. Skeff has contributed to many community projects over the years through the MV Community Fund. 

Regent Gina Ragsdale spoke about how the grant came about, “Friends, neighbors, and honored guests, today, we gather to celebrate the dedication of the plaque placed in the Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park. The DAR Buckeye Valley Chapter No. 8039, Buckeye, Ariz., applied for a special projects grant through the National Daughters of the American Revolution in April 2019, through the Monte Vista Community Fund. The ‘Five Veterans Monument Projects’ grant was awarded, and it is one of the first chapters to have received $10,000. The chapter had to receive approval at the national level because the chapter was in Arizona and the park was in Colorado.” 

Ragsdale explained how the monuments of black granite represent the military branches. She stated that although they may seem still and silent, they speak volumes about the sacrifice and enduring spirit of those who have served our country. 

“As seasons change and years pass, this memorial park will stand as a constant reminder of the cost of liberty,” she said. “This memorial serves not just as a place of remembrance, but for all of us to be engaged as citizens to serve our communities and uphold the ideals for which so many have given so much.”  

Ragsdale ended her speech by saying, “With profound respect and eternal gratitude, we now dedicate this plaque to the Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park. May it forever stand as a tribute to the brave, a comfort to the grieving, and an inspiration to us all.” 

Monte Vista City Manager Gigi Dennis spoke at the ceremony and gave the regents some history behind the park, and how it was created and established with the help of beloved community members Ray and Colette Skeff. 

“Colette Skeff put this all together and thank you all for wanting to participate and be a part of our Veterans Memorial Park. We got the work finished and had the grand opening this last November, and it was a labor of love, from our dearest friend Colette Skeff,” Dennis said. 

Dennis explained that the park began when Skeff got the community together and began doing a lot of fundraising, and then COVID hit and stalled everything. 

Dennis said the city decided it was necessary to finish the park, as it was very meaningful for the community's veterans. Dennis pointed to the bricks that had been laid in the memorial park, for beloved veterans. Families of the veterans had purchased the bricks, with their names, and dates, to memorialize them forever. 

“We have been able to arrange this park in such a way that people can come in and celebrate the life of their loved ones and reflect on the spirit of America,” Dennis said. 

Dennis said that MV Public Works Director Rob Vance had been instrumental in creating the original design and arrangement for the park. She also thanked MV City Clerk Unita Vance for working hard on brick project. 

Rob Vance said the park had been created from a crayon and pencil drawing, when they first envisioned what it would look like. He said that in finishing the park, they want people to come into the park and reflect and be thankful for America’s freedoms.  

MV City Mayor Dale Becker said that he wanted to point out that Ray and Colette Skeff have been a big inspiration to Monte Vista and that was why they dedicated a nature trail to the Skeffs, and named it after them. 

“It was right after the dedication that Ray passed away too. Ray and Colette have been a big inspiration here. I am proud of this little town because I care about our community. I am glad that you all made the drive and the trip out here. Thank you so much,” he said. 

A heartfelt biography honoring Colette Skeff was read at the ceremony by Ragsdale stating, “Colette became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Buckeye Valley Chapter on Feb. 5, 2018. She was asked to become a member by her sister, Rana Dunkerson, who was responsible for the organization of the chapter on June 11, 2006. 

“Colette became involved with the Monte Vista Community Fund in May 2018, taking over the accounting functions. At the same time, she took an active interest in the Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park. This led her to apply for the $10,000 ‘Five Monument Veterans Project’ grant with the National Society Daughters of the American (NSDAR) through the sponsorship of the DAR Buckeye Valley Chapter No. 8039, Buckeye, Ariz.” 

Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park is on the corner of First Avenue and South Broadway Street in Monte Vista.