On Thursday, December 30, 2021, wildfires erupted throughout Boulder County, Colorado, packing hurricane-force winds of up to 115 miles per hour. Incredibly, they appear to have left few to (perhaps) no fatalities in their wake although at least two residents of Superior were reported "missing" by loved ones. Yet, make no mistake. Destruct and destroy they most assuredly did. The towns of Superior and Louisville bore the brunt of them and officials have estimated that up to 1,000 homes were destroyed by them.
It was approximately nine months earlier, on March 22, 2021, when the good people of Boulder, Colorado has last found themselves thrust into the national spotlight due to a tragic event. That incident prompted an immediate response of support from the community and from CU, in support of the community it serves. #BoulderStrong was born.
I first fell in love with CU as an eighteen-year-old high school senior in the Spring of 1984 when I visited Jill and Joe and, while on campus as an "accepted student", wandered into the administrative offices and plunked down cash (I think it was $50.00 back in the day) to pay my deposit to hold my place in class. I have not shaken the dust of the campus or the community off my shoes. I never intend to do so.
When you are a Buff who lives almost 2,000 miles away from Boulder, and tragedy befalls CU and /or the community, you assist however you can, including but not limited to financially. In the aftermath of the King Soopers mass shooting, among the things that I did (with the blessing of the Missus) was purchase a Boulder Strong t-shirt (or two), the sales of which went directly to benefit those affected by the event.
Suited up for JSRC Twilight Run 12/31/2021
Photo Credit: Sam
Gidg and I ran in the Jersey Shore Running Club's 2021 Twilight Run, which stepped off at 4 pm on December 31, 2021 from the Manasquan Boardwalk. Although the shirt I wore was not designed with the Marshall Fire in mind, it nevertheless seemed appropriate, in light of the circumstances. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Building upon that theme, there are a number of avenues available to those of us positioned to assist those in Boulder County to whom the Marshall Fire delivered a body blow, a roster whose number includes Mark Smith and his family. He is the Inside Linebacker Coach for the Buffs. Their home, and its contents, which Coach Smith described as "every material possession" was destroyed. Yet, Coach Smith's message concluded with an affirmation that he, his wife, and their three kids were all safe and well, and grateful to have their health.
Those avenues include but are not limited to:
- colorado.edu/buffstogether;
- buffs4life.org;
- giving.CU.edu;
- coloradogives.org;
- coloradoresponds.org; and
- boulderoem.com.
House in Fort Collins, Colorado w/a flag design I simply love
Photo Credit: AK
-AK
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