'You have made this nation proud': Pueblo celebrates end of chemical weapons destruction

Officials from local, state, and national levels gathered at the Pueblo Convention Center Wednesday to celebrate the destruction of 780,000 chemical munitions at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

The Pueblo Chemical Depot originally stored 780,078 munitions, containing 2,613 tons of mustard agent, or around 8.5% of the U.S. stockpile.

The last munition in Pueblo was destroyed the morning of June 22, 2023, ahead of the treaty deadline of Sept. 30, 2023, which was stipulated by the Chemical Weapons Convention. The last munitions in the U.S.-declared stockpile were destroyed in Bluegrass, Kentucky in July.

Pueblo mayor reflects on the end of the mission

For Mayor Nick Gradisar, the completion was bittersweet.

"You've heard me say more than once, 'don't be in a hurry, take your time,' because we want those jobs to last," Gradisar joked at Wednesday's ceremony. "So it's bittersweet: we're happy to see the chemical weapons gone but what we don't want to see is when they're gone, that they take the good paying jobs that have been an asset to our community with them."

Gradisar thanked the individuals who helped with the chemical destruction process.

"Not only has this protected our country, but it's diversified our workforce here in Pueblo and created a lasting impact on the Pueblo community," he said.

For example, Gradisar noted the strengthened mutual aid programs and joint training opportunities between first-responder agencies created through the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP), which conducted multi-agency joint exercises every May in Pueblo, testing agencies' responses to simulated disasters involving chemical contamination.

Gradisar also noted that the PCAPP program has had a massive economic impact on the city of Pueblo. This project has employed 1,566 individuals with a local payroll, as of May 2023, of $2.69 billion. In total, the project has spent $548 million with Colorado companies, further strengthening both state and local economies.

Gradisar expressed his hope that those employed by the program will continue to call Pueblo their home through the transition process.

'You have made this nation proud': VP Kamala Harris acknowledges accomplishment in letter

Deborah Rosenblum, assistant U.S. secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs, stated she was in awe of the "amazing, landmark accomplishment."

"Though the path to success was not without its obstacles, together, you were able to accomplish this extraordinary milestone, ensuring maximum protection of the public, the personnel involved in the destruction effort, and the environment has always been a top priority for the U.S. Department of Defense," she said.

"This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts of the program executive officer for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, Mr. Michael Abae, the partnership with our contractors Bechtel and Amentum, and the determination of an amazing workforce in Colorado who remained committed and focused until the final munition was destroyed prior to the Chemical Weapons Convention commitment deadline."

Rosenblum noted that the mission was not yet over, as closure and transition operations are expected to take a number of years to complete, and that her office would continue to support the ongoing closure operations.

Finally, Rosenblum read a letter from Vice President Kamala Harris, thanking and congratulating the PCAPP team.

"To the community of the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, I extend my sincere congratulations to all of you for helping the United States achieve this critical milestone, the verified destruction of the last declared chemical weapons stockpile in the world," Harris wrote in the letter. "Since 2015 your team has shown the utmost care for the safety of each other, your neighbors in Colorado, and the environment, as you completed this noble mission."

The vice president wrote that the achievement "underscores the United States Commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the advancement of international rules and norms."

"For years to come, we will look back with gratitude for your service and a deeper resolve to prevent the stockpiling, production, and use of chemical weapons around the world," Harris concluded. "Thanks to you, we are one step closer to realizing a world free of chemical weapons. You have made this nation proud."

Gov. Jared Polis praises efforts of Pueblo community

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also praised the Pueblo community in its role in protecting national security, fulfilling global commitments, and creating a safer world.

Polis briefly touched on Colorado's military heritage and current military commitments.

"We were recently announced to continue to be the home of Space Command in Colorado Springs, we have over 400,000 veterans who have chosen to make Colorado their forever home ... Pueblo, Home of Heroes, has the largest number of living recipients of the Medal of Honor. We in southern Colorado and Colorado as a whole really excel in answering that call of duty when needed," Polis said.

"From Congress's decision to destroy the arsenal to the process of destroying the munitions in a way that emphasizes the safety of the community and is environmentally sound, to the final stage with the destruction of the remaining 10% in Pueblo and Kentucky, it might be seen as marking an ending to the legacy of the Pueblo Chemical Depot. The memory of those who served here will live on through the history of our state and nation."

However, the governor stated that it also marked a beginning, and reassured those in attendance that they were entering other areas of the workforce at an opportune time. "We have record-low unemployment with two job openings for every unemployed person. I'm confident that just as the men and women who do this work have the backs of Pueblo and Colorado, we'll have your backs as you enter the workforce to seek your next opportunities to thrive, in the great state of Colorado and beyond."

During the ceremony, Walton Levi, site project manager for PCAPP, was awarded the army's Superior Civilian Service Medal, for his outstanding performance in his duties as site manager from June 2019 to May 2023.

"Mr. Levi led a team of government and systems contractor employees to complete the destruction of more than 780,000 obsolete chemical munitions stored at the Pueblo Chemical Depot while ensuring the safety of the workforce, our community, and maximum protection to our environment," said Craig Elliot Cisne, master of ceremonies.

Flag presented to county commissioners as token of DOD's appreciation

A flag was also presented to the chair of the Board of Pueblo County Commissioners, Eppie Griego, as a token of the Department of Defense's appreciation to Pueblo County for the "many decades its citizens supported the Pueblo Chemical Depot's mission, and as our ready partner for CSEPP," said Kingston Reif, deputy assistant secretary of defense for threat reduction and arms control.

The flag, which was at one point flown over the Pentagon, was originally given by the Department of Defense to the project as a symbol of the department's trust in those working at the depot to safely destroy the chemical weapons stockpile, and has remained in the plant control room since 2015.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo celebrates end of chemical weapons destruction mission