Fort Garland in Costilla County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Costilla County Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Mary Thurman, October 11, 2008

1. Costilla County Veterans Memorial Marker

Inscription. Honoring with Pride Costilla County Veterans
A list of veterans from the Civil War through Operation Desert Shield is engraved on the marker.

Erected 2008.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Military.

Location. 37° 25.56′ N, 105° 25.241′ W. Memorial is in Fort Garland, Colorado, in Costilla County. It is on Ice House Road. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 19568 Ice House Rd, Fort Garland CO 81133, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

and in the San Luis Valley.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Fort Garland (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Garland / Buffalo Soldiers (approx. 0.6

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miles away); Welcome to El Valle De San Luis (approx. 3.2 miles away); Peacekeepers of the Frontier (approx. 3.2 miles away); Railroad Steams into El Valle de San Luis (approx. 3.2 miles away); Six Miles of Separation (approx. 3.2 miles away); Trails Through Time (approx. 5.1 miles away); The San Luis Southern Railway (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Garland.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Garland (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Additional commentary.
1. Veterans Park Dedication
The American Legion Post 142 and VFW Post 6101 held a Dedication Ceremony for the T33A "Shooting Star" and a Memorial Stone with the names of the veterans of the county who served their country on 9 August 2008 at the Veteran's Park located 1/2 miles east of Fort Garland.

A ceremony acknowledging the names of veterans buried in all county cemeteries was held as different readers announced the names of the veterans buried in each cemetery. A bell was rang three times after names found in each cemetery were read.

The T33A trainer was first flown on 22 March 1948 and

T33A "Shooting Star" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mary Thurman, October 11, 2008

2. T33A "Shooting Star"

was called tht TF-80C. A year later, it became the T33A. The trainer was modified from the P/F-80 (Shooting Star) jet fighter used in the Korean War.

The plane is on loan to the county together with American Legion Post 142 and VFW Post 6101 will perform the maintenance required by the USAF Museum.

Taps was played with the flags at half staff honoring KIA's, MIA's and POW's that have not yet returned to our country.

After the unveiling of the Memorial Stone, people searched for names of their loved ones. Two or more memorial stones have been purchased and will be installed at a future date and names of veterans who were not on the initial monument will be added at that time.

— Submitted April 1, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. This page has been viewed 1,485 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on April 1, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 27, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.