Thirty-four U.S. Marine Corps recruiters from New Mexico and Texas, and one from Durango, spent Friday, the second day of a three-day visit to Southwest Colorado, at Tall Timber Resort near Silverton riding ziplines.
They had training sessions part of the time.
The contingent was billeted in tents on the Sleeping Beauty Ranch of Monty and Claire Nichols in the Animas Valley. Except for Sgt. Gregory Smith, who is permanently stationed in Durango, the recruiters are from the 8th Marine Corps District and specifically the recruiting station in Albuquerque and nine substations in New Mexico and Texas,
Hosting the visit are Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad owner Al Harper; the Nichols; the Beggerow family, owners of Tall Timber Resort; and Jon Schuetz, a Durango businessman and former Vietnam-era Marine.
Harper said Sgt. Major Terry Weiser, who is among the Marines recruiters, was instrumental in the donation of 1,200 miniature military figurines to the D&SNG museum by retired Marine Corps captain William E. “Bud” Davis.
Davis collected or made and painted the authentically outfitted figurines that depict military history since the American Revolution. He since has donated 300 more figurines through Weiser, Harper said.
The D&SNG train that left Durango at 8 a.m. Friday stopped for the Marines on the way.
Civilian passengers greeted the Marines by waving small American flags.
Riding the ziplines could be the most strenuous activity the recruiters take on, spokesman Sgt. Bryan Eberly said. They spent the remainder of their time at the tent city reviewing recruiting procedures.
“It involves paperwork and learning to be a good recruiter,” Eberly said. “We work on selling the product.”
daler@durangoheald.com
