Twelve hundred people attended Mesa Verde National Parks annual holiday open house on Thursday, Dec. 8. It takes a lot of time and talent to throw a party for 1,200, and we really appreciate everyones contributions. We thank City Market in Cortez and store manager Devin Dahl for donating delicious cookies, and Aramark/Mesa Verde Company for donating chili and hot beverages for the parks many guests. William Yazzie, the Ear Buds, the Four Corners Community Band, Vixen, the Silver Echoes Flute Choir, and the Fort Lewis College Bala Sinem Choir shared their abundant musical talents both indoors and out. Park and partner employees, many of their families, and volunteers including Margie Deane Gray, Scott and Judy Aeschlimann, Cindy Hielscher, Bill Stalker, and Jan Wright (and any others whose names we missed!) folded, placed, lit, and took down over 1,500 luminarias and scores of lanterns, greeted visitors, managed parking, led Spruce Tree House tours and arranged special programs. Thank you all for putting on such a fine event! And many thanks to our friends and neighbors from near and far who attended the open house to make the event so special.
We hope youll save the date of December 6, 2012 to join us again at next years open house.
Laurel Rematore, Mesa Verde Museum Association