Mrs. COLORADO® Pageant & Miss CO for America Pageant
On July 13 I had the opportunity to be a part of a Flag Retirement Ceremony at VFW Post #6331 in Aurora. The community is asked to bring worn or tattered flags to be properly retired at a formal service. Below are several pictures from the flag burning ceremony.
On July 14 many motorcyclist and members of the Canon City community came out to the Creekside Shopping Center to participate in the 1st Annual Rally to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. 
I joined Lisa Henry, Mrs. Gunnison, for Gunnison's Cattlemen's Days "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" raising money for local breast cancer treatment through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and local chapters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. For more information please visit http://www.toughenoughtowearpink.com/who_benefits.html
Even the tough guys wore pink!
Lisa's prize-winning pig, Digger, couldn't take his snout off me!
Picture with the Miss Rodeo Queens from Gunnison.
With Jennifer in our beautiful BMW Z4 provided by Schomp Automotive.
I had the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles on July 5 to meet with the amazing designer, Sherri Hill (center) in person to design my gown for Mrs. America! I'm also pictured above with Mrs. Nebraska, Michele Strom, who was able to come along too!!!
Pictured with Raeanne Duca (right) from the Royal Image Boutique (www.royalimageboutique.com) and Sherri Hill.
Looking through some of Sherri's beautiful gowns.
outside Billy's restaurant before finals
Today I attended the VFW Colorado State Convention held in Colorado Springs and had the privilege to address the audience as a guest speaker. I shared my experiences as a military spouse, an Auxiliary member of Post 3917, and my work for the Children of Fallen Soldiers' Relief Fund with many other vets and their families in attendance. Many posts joined us today from across the state and I was grateful to be able to thank our vets personally for their sacrifices. I'm pictured above with my friend Ken Vegoren from Post 3917 in Colorado Springs.
Addressing the convention.
with Dr. Mahlmann, MENC Executive Director
with David and Elaine
with Victoria (Mrs. Nevada '06), Christina (Mrs. New Jersey '06), and Patty
Since its establishment on June 14, 1775 the United States Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of our nation. I was proud to be a VIP guest at Ft. Carson's 232nd Army Birthday Ball. I'm pictured above with Major General Robert W. Mixon, Jr., the Commanding General of Division West at Ft. Carson.
Nathan and I enjoyed getting to know our Mayor of Colorado Springs, Lionel Rivera, and his lovely wife Lynn at the Army's birthday party.
The Stadium Stampede is a community family event featuring a 5K run, a 5K walk, a 1K kids fun run, and the Huff & Puff 1K Challenge to raise money for the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. The course for all events goes through the Denver Broncos' INVESCO Field at Mile High and participants can see themselves on Thundervision, the giant video screen. This is the beginning of the 1K kids fun run, and I gave all of our runners some words of encouragement over the loud speaker just before they took off.
Pictured above with one of the volunteers who helped out tremendously during the Stadium Stampede.
I was honored to be a guest at the first annual Ladies Nite Out in Colorado Springs at the Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, June 14, 2007. Ladies Nite Out offers women an evening of discovery, learning, and just plain fun. Myself and many other ladies enjoyed a gala evening of entertainment, food, products and services especially geared for today's woman. I'm pictured above with Bobby from Sensational Sounds DJ Service.
Michiele Stapleton, Mrs. Colorado Springs 2007, also joined me in the fun. We're pictured with Corey from Sensational Sounds.
Corinne Wymann-Solano, President and Designer from Aleks Pret-a-Porter, Inc., asked me to wear one of her custom designed necklaces during the night to show off her work.
with Ashley Bauer, Miss Nebraska 2007
Pictured above with Regional Manager, John Schmidt, from the Harley-Davidson Corporation.
During the Le Vian Fashion Show, I interviewed participants, buyers and friends of Le Vian on the "Red Carpet," live on Le Vian Television. This year's Le Vian event showcased the new chocolate diamonds, which I had the privilege of also modeling. Diane, Julie Love-Templeton, Mrs. America 2005 and I also wore designer gowns from Junko Yoshioka. I joined Eddie Le Vian at the Jewelers for Children benefit dinner in the evening at the Bellagio, spending time talking with Le Vian, COO Vin Vajjhala and others.
with Eddie Le Vian
with Julie after make up and hair
KCCY 96.9 FM and St. Jude Children's Hospital teamed up and invited me to help raise money for their 1st Annual Radiothon in Southern Colorado. We raised $105,000 in only two days! 
I had the privilege of being a guest speaker on air encouraging listeners to call in and pledge to become a Partner in Hope. I also answered the phones as "Hello, this is Mrs. Colorado, thank you for calling...".
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility anywhere. Discoveries made there have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is where some of today’s most gifted researchers are able to do more science, more quickly; where doctors across the world send their toughest cases and most vulnerable patients; and where no one pays for treatment beyond what is covered by insurance, and those without insurance are never asked to pay.
My duties officially began this past Monday and I had the best time riding around Denver from appearance to appearance in my courtesy limo provided by Kevin Trizna of Colorado Car and Limousine (official limousine service for Mrs. Colorado) with Marney Duckworth, Mrs. America 2007, and our state director Tricia Dampier. What a great way to kick off my year as Mrs. Colorado 2007. I am really looking forward to all of the endless opportunities I will have this year, and most importantly volunteering with great organizations such as the Veterans Hospital and bringing awareness to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. 
KOSI 101 with Denise and Murphy
taking pictures at Red Rocks in between appearances
Denver's Channel 7 (ABC) with Bertha Lynn and Jim Hooley
