Members of the Black Forest AARP Chapter decorated their float, the Treasures of the Forest, with the name and presentation date on a key for each of the past 51 recipients who received the Keeper of the Keys honor. Wayne Rusk, the first recipient of the Keeper of the Keys (who was in the first ever Black Forest Festival parade in 1960), shared a place on the float with Smokey the Bear and other chapter members. The always popular Evergreen trees also graced the float, and the Stars and Stripes accompanied by the Prisoner of War and Colorado state flags flew above. ††††††††Since the inception of the tradition, eight Black Forest AARP Chapter members have been designated Keeper of the Keys. Three of the recipients rode on the float this year: Lavonne Hidy, and last yearís recipients, Ray and Linda Rozak.
