Sheridan’s Boy and Girl Scouts pose with Senator Barrasso at the VFW on Monday.
A rainy wet day didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sheridan Roy Eaton VFW Post 1560 on Monday, May 30, with featured speaker Senator John Barrasso, who spoke to a full house.
Barrasso said, “All around the state of Wyoming today people are gathering to remember those who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free and safe.”
He said that President Lincoln, at a flag raising on the 4th of July 1861, stated, “It is my job to raise the flag but,” he said, pointing to the audience, “It is your job to keep it up.”
Barrasso mentioned Senator Tom Cotton, who once served as one of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and he wrote a book title, Sacred Duty. Barrasso said that Cotton’s wife, Anna, lived in Sheridan for a time.
He said that today we are focused on the Korean War Veterans. His wife’s father, Bob Brown, served in WW2 and was called back to go back to Korea.
Senator John Barrasso
He talked about the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Wyoming Army National Guard Cowboy Cannonners, and how they responded to the call.
He spoke directly to Ralph Goodwin about the 300th, and the impact they had on the Korean War. Goodwin received a standing ovation.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Goodwin
Barrossa also presented a military challenge coin to each of the veterans who were in attendance. He had the coin designed with the bucking bronco, and “I give this to our soldiers and our veterans.”
Coin Presented to the Veterans
He added that he wanted to talk a little bit about how Wyoming people look at our veterans. He talked about Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, of Bondurant, Wyoming, who was among the 13 U.S. soldiers killed in a suicide bombing Aug. 26, 2021, at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
Barrasso said that he had talked to McCollum’s father, who said that his son had wanted to be a Marine since he was a toddler and joined the U.S. Marine Corp the day he turned 18.
The senator said that this was McCollum’s first deployment, and when they brought his body home, everyone in Jackson, Wyoming, turned out. McCollum’s wife was pregnant at the time, and the baby was born three days later. Through a go-fund-me page, the American people raised over 1 million dollars for her and their young child.
Marly Graham and Ian Gale
After Barrasso’s talk, Girl Scout Marly Graham, and Boy Scout Ian Gale, senior patrol leader in Boy Scout Troop 117, spoke about the history of the Korean War.
Wendy Gale, assistant scout master, said that Ian represents the troop on the Sheridan County Veterans Council. He and the other Boy Scouts have been involved prior to this weekend, helping to organize the activities and events at the cemetery on Saturday, when the troop and the community decorated the veterans graves, and the Scouts will turn out on Monday, rain or shine, to take the flags off the graves.
Post Everlasting Ceremony
After the talks, the Boy and Girl Scouts, joined by one of the Fort Phil Kearny Regulars, A Living History/ Re-Enacting Organization, performed the Post Everlasting Ceremony a time-honored military tradition which included reading a roll call of all the veterans in Sheridan County who have been called home by their supreme commander since last Memorial Day.
The ceremony concluded with a gun salute and the playing of Taps by members of the American Legion Post #7, Seventh Cavalry Drum and Bugle Corp to honor those who have died in the past year.
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Last modified: May 30, 2022