Did you witness the raising of the American flag on Western Colorado's Independence Monument on July 4th? Hopefully you saw it with your own eyes. In the event you didn't, here you go.

Every year the Mesa County Sheriff's Office Technical Rescue Team climbs Independence Monument to raise the flag. People gather at various points along the Colorado National Monument to witness the event.

Thanks to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and their official Facebook page, video of this year's climb is available.

How long has this been going on? By my math, 2017 marks the 106th year where someone has climbed the monument to raise the flag. John Otto did it first in 1911. In that particular case, he made the climb a few weeks early in order to have the flag in place for the 4th of July.

No doubt you'll agree this doesn't look like an easy climb. Special kudos go to the gentlemen standing on the outcrop just below the top. He must have drawn the short straw. Obviously, he has the critical job of securing the base of the flag pole to the rock.

Thank you to the members of the Mesa County Sheriff's Office Technical Rescue Team. Many of us look forward to this annual event.

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