Americans express patriotism in many forms, and Colorado was ranked the fifth most patriotic state in America, according to a recent study conducted by the financial website WalletHub.
With the Fourth of July approaching, WalletHub’s team compared 13 indicators of patriotism including military enlistments, volunteer rates and the percentage of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election.
Colorado scored 63 out of 100 total points and ranked 12th in military engagement and ninth in civic engagement.
Along with 43 other states, Colorado has a civic education requirement for high school graduation, said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. That helped contribute to its civic engagement rank.
Additionally, Colorado was No. 3 for the highest percentage of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election.
“Sixty-nine percent of Colorado’s citizens voted in that election,” Gonzalez said.
The study says most red states are more patriotic than blue states, although Coloradans voted for Democrats in the last three presidential elections.
Colorado also was ranked No. 7 for states with AmeriCorps volunteers. AmeriCorps is a nonprofit program that engages adults in public service work.
There are about 49 AmeriCorps volunteers per 100,000 adults in Colorado, Gonzalez said.
Trails 2000, a nonprofit group in Durango that plans, builds and maintains trails, frequently has a high number of volunteers, according to executive director Mary Monroe Brown. The group has 400 to 900 volunteers per year who work thousands of hours on trails.
“The community has stepped up on each and every project to help out. I think that if you choose to live in Durango, you really do become a part of the community. Your values reflect what the community is all about,” Brown said.
Virginia was listed as the most patriotic state in the country with 70 points while New Jersey came in last with 27.
July Fourth ScheduleCortez
7 a.m.: Cortez Burst Triathlon. Begins at City Park outdoor pool. Must register online by 7 p.m. on July 3.
9 p.m.: Fireworks at Parque de Vida at dusk.
Mancos
5-7 p.m.: Community Interdependence Day potluck, 200 East Grand Ave.
9 p.m.: Fireworks in Boyle Park at dusk.
Rico
9 a.m.– 4 p.m.: Rico Women’s Club Craft Fair at the Rico Elementary School.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.: FireWise info at the firehouse.
11 A.m.: Fourth of July parade. Lineup starts at 10 a.m. at courthouse. Grand marshal and Rico native Allene Eula Winkfield Pera is 102 this year.
12 p.m.: Burgers, dogs, bratwurst and barbecue at the firehouse. Music by Four Corners Community Band. Filipino street fair food, across from post office.
1 p.m.: Enterprise contests: log splitting, watermelon eating. Music at 3:30 p.m.
3 p.m.: Rico Fire Department’s Duck Race. Duck drop happens at the Piedmont bridge, finish line is at the West Rico Bridge.
Dusk-9 p.m.: Rico fireworks show.
For more weekend events in Rico, go to: eventhttp://bit.ly/2tmwOKb
9 a.m.: Parade starts, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., kids games at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, the grease pole at 12:30 p.m. and adult games at 1 p.m.
2 p.m.: The Pig Chase, followed by a rock-drilling competition at 3 p.m., the Bradley Sitton Band at 7 p.m., and a 21-gun salute.
Dusk: Fireworks.
11 a.m.: Parade on historic Main Street, with a Colorado National Guard fly-over. Followed by The Rundola foot race to benefit the Telluride Foundation, and the Firemen’s Barbecue, at $14 for adults and $9 for kids.
9 p.m.: Fireworks at Town Park.
Durango
7.30–11 a.m.: All-American breakfast at Rotary Park.
9 a.m.: 5KFun run/walk at Rotary Park. Registration closes at 8:45 a.m.
11 a.m.– 12.30 p.m.: American Voices: What it Means to be an American, presented by Fort Lewis College at Buckley Park. Music by Southwest Civic Winds.
12-4 p.m.: Family barbecue at Durango Elks Lodge.
12–5 p.m.: Family picnic at Buckley Park. Food carts, readings of our nation’s founding documents, and live music.
2-5.30 p.m.: Veterans of Foreign Wars barbecue at Rotary Park.
3 p.m.: Southwest Civic Winds free concert at Rotary Park. Jazz band at 3:00 p.m., concert band at 4:00 p.m.
6 p.m.: Stars and Stripes Parade on Main Ave. from College Drive to 12th Street.
7 p.m.: A Street Dance at 11th Street and Main Ave. (will occur immediately following parade).
9.15 p.m.: Durango Fireworks Show has been canceled.
Mild to Wild Rafting will host five river parades throughout the day, where participants dress up in costumes and float down the Animas river.
Bayfield
7-10 a.m.: Bayfield Lions Club pancake breakfast. $8 for adults, $4 for children.
8 a.m.: Calvary Presbyterian Church pie and craft sale.
8 a.m.: Firecracker 5K and family walk.
10 a.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Mill Street.
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Fourth of July celebration at Joe Stephenson Park.
12 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament at Eagle Park.
1 p.m.: Corn hole tournament at Pine Valley Rotary Beer Tent
2 p.m.: Duck race at Joe Stephenson Park.
7-9 p.m.: Music at Joe Stephenson Park, featuring Million Dollar Highway.
9 p.m.: Firework show at Joe Stephenson Park. Will start at dusk.
Silverton
8-10 a.m.: Fourth of July fun run. Begins at Memorial Park.
10.30 a.m.- 12 p.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Greene and Blaire Streets. Culminates with a giant water fight between fire department and kids.
12-4 p.m.: Carnival at Memorial Park. Silverton Brass Band Concert will perform.
2-3 p.m.: Rubber Duck Derby at Cement Creek.
6-9 p.m.: Blair Street Block Party, featuring The Tim Sullivan Band.
9-10 p.m.: Fireworks, set off near Shrine of the Mines.
Compiled by Journal staff and Alex Semadeni
