Anne Moore took this photo of her daughter Bailey Dodson saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Veterans Day. Art Edwards, Bailey’s grandpa, stands to her right and behind them are Michelle and Victoria Long.

Susan and Bruce Ricks of Fruita stand in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, in this photo taken on May 10 by Shirley Ricks.

Barbara Mitchell sent in this photo from the Centennial Band’s concert “Music on the Monument” at the Devil’s Kitchen Picnic Area on June 9.

Lisa Bush’s piano students participated in the 2012 National Piano Guild Auditions. Pictured are Lucia Vazquez, Lisa Bush, Renee Martinez, Jonathan Wernke, Rhiannon Friel-Redifer, Rhyan McCloskey, Caleb Kostreva, Kate Hayde, Cora Severs, Ava Severs and Mathew Wernke. Not pictured is Davis Devereux. Elizabeth Bush took this photo.

Ryan Van Tassel took this photo on the Lake of the Woods Trail on Grand Mesa on June 20. It was “68 degrees at 1 p.m. so it was worth the short drive to get away from the heat,” Van Tassel wrote.

Rebekah Bossard, center, was awarded the $1,000 P.E.O. Chapter N Community Scholarship for students attending Colorado Mesa University. Bossard is a nursing student. Pictured with Bossard are Jeanette Cameron, president, left, and Bev Dwire, scholarship committee chairman.

Joyce Williams snapped this photo of her brother, Merle Nelson of Florence, Miss., with the sculpture “Horsing Around” at Gateway Canyons Resort in Gateway. The sculpture was created by Lyle Nichols of Palisade.

Amy Taylor and Josiah Peacock are shown before a Denver Bronco game last year. “Josiah went to be with his heavenly father on Tuesday, June 12th, and will be in our hearts forever,” wrote Rodd and Amy Taylor in their email submission.

Mike Wethington and Nicholas Benjamin’s “The Death Star” won most creative cake in Cub Scout Troop 318 annual cake contest.

Melanie Gibson took this photo of four generations of Gibson men. Pictured from left are Zachariah H. Gibson,a 2012 Montrose High School grad who was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy; Gary L. Gibson; Donnin L. Gibson, who was celebrating his 85th birthday on the day photo was taken; and James D. Gibson.

The 12 member Grand Junction CHAMPS Veterans Golden Age Games Team competed in the S. Louis Games this summer. The team, two members of which are seen here competing in the shot put event, brought home a number of medals along with The Challenge Award, which is given to a first time competing athlete demonstrating the characteristics of a true athlete. The Challenge Award was given to Lee Uhey, a U.S. Navy Seabees veteran and gold medalist in the javelin event.

The 12 member Grand Junction CHAMPS Veterans Golden Age Games Team competed in the S. Louis Games this summer. The team, two members of which are seen here competing in the shot put event, brought home a number of medals along with The Challenge Award, which is given to a first time competing athlete demonstrating the characteristics of a true athlete. The Challenge Award was given to Lee Uhey, a U.S. Navy Seabees veteran and gold medalist in the javelin event.

Lynn Shore took this photo of a Grand Valley Fire Protection District crew practice on June 11 at the fire station in Battlement Mesa. Pictured are Nater Voorhees, Rob Cooney and Justin Manly.

John McCain took this photo of Jenna Purdy on a windy day at Lands End on Grand Mesa. Mike Purdy can be seen in the background.

Rod and Linda Huskey sent in this photo that was taken March 17 at “A Night in the 40’s Big Band Dance” at Falcon Field in Mesa, Ariz. Pictured with the Huskeys are Ron and Shirley Pate, Jack and Mary Helen Bowden, Gay and Jim Page and Diane and Rod Starling. In the background is the Arizona Wings’ B-17 Sentimental Journey.Huskey

Ellie Lewis, 9, from Warsaw, Ind., and Lilly Shipp, 10, from Denver, shopped and dressed up at Mesa Mall while in Grand Junction visiting their grandma, Regina Shipp.

The Orchard Mesa Major Girl were the Colorado state softball champions and represented Colorado in the Southwest Little League regional tournament in July. “Congratulations to Megan Rubalcaba, Melissa Gellerman, Hannah Hutto, Jenna Sutliff, Camryn Sanchez, Hailey Schaneman, Harlee Roberts, Arianna Martinez, Katelynn Schwerdtfeger, Marisa Sandoval, Alexia Thompson and coaches Rich Gellerman, Chad Schaneman and Joe Rubalcaba,” wrote Ruben Sandoval in his photo submission.

“Congratulations to Alabama Super Juniors football team for an undefeated season 8–0. You guys worked hard and deserved it. Way to go Rolling Tide!!” wrote Ruben Sandoval to his son’s team, which was coached by Bill Alton and Chris McDonald. This photo was taken by and used with permission from M.J. Thomas Photography.

School District 51 third-graders listen during a presentation by Zebulon Miracle from the Museum of Western Colorado during a nature scavenger hunt in Devil’s Canyon in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area in May. More than 350 students from five school took part in the nature scavenger hunt put on by the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Canyons Association. This photo was taken by Kathryn Stevens with the Bureau of Land Management.

Cole Wadzeck looks at his refection and Tyler Wadzeck gives the “Chrome on the Range” buffalo a pat in these photos sent in by Conra Weber.

Cole Wadzeck looks at his refection and Tyler Wadzeck gives the “Chrome on the Range” buffalo a pat in these photos sent in by Conra Weber.

Three Palisade High School football players made up the lawn Aeration Fundraiser Team. Pictured from left are parent volunteer Dale Hoaglund, Braxton Stewart, Victor Bello and Alex Wilmore. Layne Brown took this photo.

Zula Pike submitted this photo of two children learning to be brave firemen.

Allison Marie Pond was prom queen at Fort Collins High School. She is the daughter of David and Jennifer Pond of Fort Collins and the granddaughter of Doreen Pond of Grand Junction.

Ireke Tremblay, left, Jeremiah Cake, center, and Anthony Hammond were the 2012 Grand Valley Christian High School graduating class. The commencement ceremony was May 19 at Valley Church and Hammond, the valedictorian, gave the commencement address. Hammond plans to study business administration at Colorado Mesa University. Tremblay plans to go into some type of ministry and was accepted to attend Barclay College in Haviland, Kan., and Cake plans to become certified in information technology and accepted a position as an apprentice at Intelligent IT. Jeff Brantley, a board member for the school, sent in this photo.

Alaina Hayden, 11, holds her first place ribbons from the 100, 200 and standing long jump at the Hershey Track Meet. Hayden will be a sixth-grader at Fruita Middle School.

Jeremy Allen Johann graduated from Grand Junction High School on May 15. Pictured with him, from left, are his grandpa Joe Johann, mom Christy Johann, AJ Johann (front), Damian Johann (back), grandma Carol Johann and dad Steve Johann.

Owen Lanham, 2, decided he wanted a beard, so he used markers to create one. “Thanks goodness they (the markers) were the washable kind,” wrote his grandgrandma D.E. Lanham.

A check was presented to Special Olympics representatives and athletes by the Western Colorado Contractors Association, The Gauntlet committee and event sponsors. The funds were raised at The Gauntlet Race.

Kenneth Shipp caught a German brown trout at Beaver Lake on Grand Mesa on May 5. His wife, Regina Shipp, took this photo.

Vic Beckler of Battlement Mesa took this photo of a hawk perched on his neighbor’s TV antenna dish. It was “looking to capture a smaller bird that was feeding at my feeding station. I have had several hawks hunting in my backyard and have photos of some eating their prey under my bushes,” Beckler wrote.

Stacie Boyles took this photo on May 18 at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Ron Johnson sent in this photo of a robin with four young ones. “The nest is in a lilac bush outside our bedroom window and the parents are kept busy feeding these hungry ones,” he wrote.

Charley Sunshine spotted this ladybug hiding in the top branches of trees in full bloom on Easter Sunday in the St. Mary’s Hospital Advanced Medicine Pavilion parking lot area.

This photo was taken on the Colorado Riverfront Trail near Connected Lakes by Stacie Boyles.

Klaus Girk took this photo of an American White Pelican over Pelican Pond at St. Vrain State Park located at the Longmont exit of Interstate 25 and Colorado Highway 119.

This estimated 800–900 pound Black Marlin was almost landed by Mike Anton while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “It took Mike nearly 5 1/2 hours to get this fish to the boat deck, only to have the line to break. Mike’s reaction was one of relief as he told the captain that this fish would have cost him a ‘boatload’ of money,” wrote Mike’s wife, Karen Anton, who also took this photo.