Why Veterans Choose to Move to Castle Rock, CO
Outstanding resources and support make this Colorado city a prime landing spot.
Just a short commute away from the United States Air Force Academy as well as several other military installations near Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, CO, is an ideal place for veterans to land after service. With over 20,000 veterans in Douglas County, surrounding communities work together to ensure that veterans who move to Castle Rock can find to career opportunities and community support.
In This Article
Finding Support and Recognition
The first project of the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation (DCVMF) was to construct the Veterans Memorial Freedoms Keeper monument in downtown Castle Rock. Soon after the monument’s completion, the nonprofit organization pivoted to focus on offering resources to hometown heroes through efforts like the Veterans Assistance Grant program.
The monument is now marking its 10th anniversary, situated in a plaza that proudly flies the flags of all service branches as well as the POW flag. The grant program continues to offer once-in-a-lifetime grants of up to $2,000 for veteran needs.
“We average around $30,000 a year in grants,” says Jarrod Wildman, a Navy veteran and board chairman of the DCVMF. “The only qualification is that you have to be a veteran who was honorably or medically discharged, reside in Douglas County and prove a financial need.”
Uniquely, the money from the grant – if an applicant is accepted – doesn’t go to the recipient; the DCVMF pays the financial need directly to the source. Whether it’s rent assistance, repair costs or service or mobility support, qualifying veterans can apply to have the costs covered quickly and easily.
A Strong Community
The American Legion Post 1187 has a strong presence in Castle Rock, bringing together veterans who are actively involved in the community.
Mike McNairy served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, and once retired, ended up in nearby Sedalia. Today, he’s an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and commander of Post 1187.
“The American Legion is set up on four pillars; the biggest that we focus on is serving veterans,” he says. “One of the primary things we do is get veterans connected with better resources and services.”
Veterans Resources
Post 1187 has representatives who speak regularly to members to educate as many veterans as possible on the resources available to them. It’s also active in community service, from organizing important funeral details to providing scholarship opportunities for students.
Other community involvement efforts include volunteering with the American Legion riders, visiting schools on Veterans Day and simply spreading the word about attending events and supporting veterans.
“We’re working hard to make sure people know that we’re part of this community and are happy to contribute to it however we can,” McNairy says. “Castle Rock is a great place for veterans. There’s good fellowship with other veterans if you’re looking for that; we have a different culture all on our own. At the end of the day, everyone would give the shirt off their back for one another.”
Start Fresh in Castle Rock
With a Veterans Service Office located in town and a new VA outpatient clinic set to be open in 2024, veterans can find pretty much anything they need to start the next chapter of their lives in the region.
“Castle Rock has proximity to Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Fort Peterson and Buckley Air Force Base,” Wildman says. “It’s a family community and an ideal place to raise kids. Because of that, we’ve had a burst of veteran-owned businesses, from microbreweries to construction companies. It’s a great place for young, new veterans to come to; it’s a very patriotic county with lots of events (like DCVMF’s annual VetFest) and resources.”
Veterans who wish to apply for DCVMF grant assistance can do so through its website at www.dcvmf.org. Those interested in joining the American Legion can learn more at www.post1187.coloradolegion.org.
Coming Soon: A New VA Clinic in Castle Rock
Castle Rock will soon have a new VA clinic from the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, which will offer vital care and health resources to veterans in the area. The facility will provide a more convenient location for those who usually utilize services either in Denver or Colorado Springs.
Set to open in late 2024 or early 2025 at Prairie Hawk Drive and Dacoro Lane, the clinic will be built based on a care model that will best serve the veterans who call the region home. The clinic will house eight primary care teams; though, mental health and whole health services, as well as alternative medicines (like acupuncture and massage), will likely be added into the mix in the future.
At a town hall meeting that discussed the project, Michael Kilmer, the director of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, also pointed out expansions of legislation that significantly impact veterans and their care. As a result of legislation passed in 2022, eligibility for the PACT Act will now be easier for veterans who have been exposed to toxic air, radiation, smoke pits, Agent Orange and other hazards.
Moreover, the COMPACT Act is now expanded to completely cover emergency care (including ambulances and transportation costs) for veterans who are at imminent risk of self-harm, and it extends eligibility to veterans who are victims of physical assault, battery or sexual harassment during their service.
Get to Know Castle Rock
Want to learn more about living and working in Castle Rock, CO? Check out the latest edition of Livability Castle Rock, Colorado.