News – Sheridan Media
On Tuesday, November 11, at 11 a.m., the Clearmont Historical Group held their annual Veterans Day program commemorating Armistice Day, the day when the armistice, or cease fire, was signed in 1918 between the Allied Forces of World War I and Germany.
The Clearmont event started at the Clear Creek Valley Veteran’s Memorial at 11 a.m., with a short talk, and a presentation of a check to the Civil Air Patrol Youth program. After that the group moved to the Clearmont Community Center for special music by the Arvada Clearmont 7-12 School band, and speakers talking about Veteran’s Day.
The first speaker was Mark Roundstone, a member of the Cheyenne Tribe from Lame Deer, Montana. He talked of war and peace from a Cheyenne point of view.
He said that the Cheyenne conflicts with the U.S. Army lasted about 15 years. The Cheyenne had more conflicts with the Army than all of the other tribes. He said over the 15-year period there were 75 battles, three or four he described as massacres, like the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado. “Massacres are the outright brutality of war.”
The Sand Creek Massacre happened on November 29, 1864, when a command under Colonel John Chivington attacked and destroyed a village of Arapaho and Cheyenne people, mostly noncombatants, women and children.
Roundstone painted an image with words about what the massacre would have been like from the Cheyenne point of view. He said it was around 4 a.m when the army began firing on the camp. Everyone was asleep in their warm lodges.
Roundstone talked about other battles that the Cheyenne engaged in and added that the Cheyenne have always honored their veterans and continue that tradition today.
After Roundstone’s talk, Cynthia Vannoy, Clearmont resident, gave a power point presentation about her father, Wallace Vannoy, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Vannoy was stationed at Hickam Field, the Army/Airforce Base near the Harbor. He wrote this about the bombing.
After his Army service, Vannoy came back to Clearmont and continued to run the family ranch until his death in 1994.
After Vannoy’s presentation, George Comrie, Clearmont resident, talked about his service as a helicopter pilot.
He said he never planned to be a pilot, never thought about it until that patient walked in, and that’s been his life.
George shared many of his adventures, including going to the Middle East after 911.
He said one time he was stationed not far from his daughter, who was also in the Army, and they could occasionally spend the Holidays together.
In closing, George added,
After the talks, attendees could look at the photos of those from the area who had served in the Armed Forces through the years, and memorabilia donated by several veterans or their families.
Refreshments were served, and a good crowd was at the event.
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Last modified: November 14, 2025