A memorial to fallen aviation firefighters was dedicated on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at the Hermit Park Open Space in Estes, Colorado, near the four separate crash sites where firefighters died in the line of duty.
The site features a granite boulder with a memorial plaque commemorating the firefighters who gave their lives protecting the surrounding communities. This plaque is inscribed with the names of firefighters who died in three separate wildland fires including the Big Elk Fire, the Fort Carson Fire, and the Kruger Rock Fire. Firefighters memorialized at the site include: Milt Stollak, Rick Schwartz, Gordon Knight, Gert Marais, and Marc “Thor” Olson.
This memorial also features benches for quiet reflection, which are made from local trees in the park.
