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Senator Barrasso Speaks at VFW Memorial Day Ceremony
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Fred Osborn
May 31, 2022 at 7:38 am
Barrasso…MEH
Olivia Cupant
May 31, 2022 at 9:20 am
Having someone who blindly votes for war whatever the cost and who has never served is a slap in the face to all veterans. The VFW should be ashamed.
MIKE DUNCAN
June 1, 2022 at 9:50 am
CAN U TELL ME WHAT BRACH OF SERVICE BILL CLINTON WAS IN? OBAMA? BIDEN?
Fred Osborn
June 1, 2022 at 12:28 pm
TRUMP?
mike duncan
June 2, 2022 at 6:01 am
You?
dennis west
May 31, 2022 at 9:43 am
Giving out coins on Memorial Day with his name on them? After despite an oath he failed to defend a critical element of democracy – a fair election and peaceful transfer of power. All about him. Narcissism on display.
mike duncan
June 1, 2022 at 11:43 am
arent we lucky biden is president: highest inflation in 40 years, gas at 6 dollars a gallon,food cost out of sight….BTW DENNIS TO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY SPARE BABY FORMULA??????
Fred Osborn
June 1, 2022 at 12:31 pm
You must be in Kalifornia if you are paying $6 for gas…priceless.Obviously can’t see the forest for the trees.
Sean Saltzman
May 31, 2022 at 9:54 am
Nice speech, but apparently Senator Barrasso has very little idea how angry a lot of Wyoming citizens are, especially us veterans, when he presents himself proudly standing over McConnell’s shoulder as the minority leader lectured America that “I think we all agree the most important thing going on in the world right now is the war in Ukraine.” Well senator, no, we certainly don’t all agree on that. How about our own border? Out of control inflation? Rampant fentanyl overdoses nationwide? Destruction of our energy industry? Gas and food costs crippling families? Runaway crime? Terrorists pouring across the border? A corrupt and broken election system? Growing mental health decline across the nation? Corrosion of readiness and morale in our woke military? We’re squandering away significant stocks of our stingers (no longer made), javelins, switchblades and howitzers (many no longer made) which can NOT be replaced quickly, and placing 100,000 military in Europe just as the real threat (China) is rapidly gathering momentum on the other side of the world and we ignore it. Are we living a modern-day redux of Arminius and the Roman Legions with our forces arrayed in exactly the wrong place? At least our junior Senator was brave and principled enough to cast a NO vote on the Ukraine aid package, and we should all thank her for that stand. We have no more patience for neo-conservative establishment elites destroying the country, Senator Barrasso. I wish Josh Hawley would move to Wyoming and run against you. Like our only Congressional representative, you have lost votes with this one, mine included.
Tom Carlock
May 31, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Thank you Senator for dignifying Veterans of Foreign Wars and all Veterans. With what is happening all around us today no one can take from us that we served our nation and our gave our oath to protect our flag and freedom. The truth about Memorial Day is that it is a day set aside to remember our fallen and respect our dead. You speech addressed just that, while introducing to the public some that have given their most to protect our freedom. All gave some, some gave all.
Again, I thank you.
keith grayson
September 23, 2022 at 2:26 am
I just found this same coin at a Goodwill store in Sacramento today! it was with a university of wyoming veteran services center coin