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Push Under Way To Name Mountain Peak In John Denver's Honor

LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - Say the name John Denver and one can't help but think about the legendary singer's legacy in Colorado. Now there's a push under way to name a mountain peak in his honor and put Denver on the map forever.

Denver loved Colorado and it can be heard in his music. JP McDaniel knew Denver well. Now she's spearheading an effort to officially name the eastern peak of Mount Sopris near Aspen as "John Denver Peak."

"Many people know John Denver for his music, which is wonderful. But to me, his greatest contributions have been his environmental work," McDaniel said.

The un-named peak is not only near where Denver called home, he even wrote his famous song "Rocky Mountain High" during a visit up the mountain.

"A meteor went over and they were just like, 'Whoa.' And it was so inspiring that he wrote 'Rocky Mountain High.' 'I've seen it raining fire in the sky.' That's where he composed the song," McDaniel said.

McDaniel has set up a petition drive that she will send to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names in hopes of making John Denver Peak a reality.

"It has to be an unnamed peak and it can't be named after a living person; the person has to have been deceased at least five years. The person has to have made a significant historical contribution to the area, and also a contribution to the environment to the natural world."

McDaniel knows it won't be easy, but the devoted fan and friend believes it's the least she can do to honor a man who entertained so many and gave so much back to the land he loved.

To sign the petition go here: http://www.petitiononline.com/JDPeak/?petition.html

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