Saving the Bell: Navy Leaguer Hermsmeyer Salvages USS Colorado Artifacts
By Brett Davis
When visiting the University of Colorado, Boulder’s University Memorial Center, the on-campus Navy ROTC unit’s spaces, the state’s capitol building or the Navy Operational Support Center Denver, one will see an expansive array of memorabilia from the various ships named Colorado. This includes an emphasis on the highly decorated World War II battleship, USS Colorado BB-45. The ship served from 1923 to 1947, earning seven battle stars for combat actions during the war.
Navy Leaguer Norris Hermsmeyer has spent more than 25 years sourcing USS Colorado BB-45 artifacts on display in greater Denver and Boulder.
Hermsmeyer was commissioned an ensign via the CU Boulder Navy ROTC program in 1967 and served during the Vietnam War. His ongoing work to assist the USS Colorado BB-45 Alumni Association earned him a rare “honorary member” position with that organization.
In 1995, he was working with BB-45 collectors Andy Andresen and former USS Colorado crewmember Ken Jones to bring various memorabilia to the state. Norris later displayed these artifacts at a Denver Council Navy League dinner, where the Naval Reserve Center Executive Officer was in attendance. The officer asked Norris if the Reserve Center might be considered a location to display these artifacts. This memorabilia remains on display on the quarterdeck of the former Naval Reserve Center, now renamed NOSC Denver, located on Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.
Among his most recognized projects was to secure the approval of the State Capitol Advisory Committee and then-governor Roy Romer to design and secure state government approval to erect a granite memorial on the northeast lawn of the state capitol honoring the men who served on the battleship. Dedicated on March 21, 1997, this was to be the last free-standing memorial authorized to be erected on the capitol grounds.
Hermsmeyer says the first USS Colorado ship’s bell, dated 1856 (and then recast for the second ship named USS Colorado in 1904), was sourced in a warehouse managed by the Navy History and Heritage Command. The bell was shipped to the CU Boulder University Memorial Center (UMC) at Norris’ great personal expense to be displayed at the university’s annual Veteran’s Day remembrance event, and now is on permanent display at the UMC, the state’s official veterans’ memorial.