Pinedale on the Web!
Pinedale, Wyoming
Home | Calendar of Events | Photo Gallery | Local Businesses |

Governor Gordon Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon travelled across the state to be present for the rededication ceremony for the Pinedale Veteran's Memorial Monument. Pinedale Choir and Band Cutting the red ribbon Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock, Sublette County Commissioner Joel Bousman, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon cut the red ribbon at the end of the morning rededication ceremony. 3 volley salute Posting the Colors Pinedale Choir Mike Edison Michael Edison, Commander of the Phillips-Edwards Post 47 American Legion Post. The Pinedale Choir is behind him. Tim Scott Brigadier General Tim Scott was the keynote speaker. Carson Gregory Congressional Award winner Reese Noble Congressional Award winner Voice of Democracy awards Windy Noble gives the high school Voice of Democracy awards. Patriots Pen Youth Essay Awards Landon Call Wyoming State Trooper Landon Call was given the Constitutional Freedom Award

While having to working around COVID-19 public health restrictions, observances were still able to be held this year for Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th.

Early in the morning, a ceremony was held to rededicate the Veterans Memorial in the American Legion Park in Pinedale. Members of the American Legion Phillips-Edwards Post 47, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Pinedale High School choir and band, along with special guests and dignitaries including Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Sublette County Commissioners Joel Bousman and Tom Noble, and Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock, were on hand. Several new monument pedestals were recently added to the memorial. There currently are over 1700 names of Sublette County Veterans on the memorial monuments.

Later in the morning, a Veterans celebration program was held in the Sheppard Auditorium. Click on this link to view the recording of the Pinedale 2020 Veterans Day community program. In the pictures with this article, the auditorium looks fairly sparse. Due to COVID-19 health restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend indoor public gatherings, local school children were watching the program live from their classrooms via the internet broadcast. The back portion of the theatre was reserved for the choir so they could social distance in their seating. The public was also encouraged to watch via the live broadcast or listen to it on KPIN 101.1 FM Radio. The Facebook link to the live broadcast had hundreds of viewers.

The Pinedale High School Band and Choir performed musical selections including the National Anthem and Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Chaplain Randy Belton gave the invocation. Keynote Speaker was Brigadier General Tim Scott, US Air Force.

Congressional Awards were given to Carson Gregory, Zoe Griffin and Reese Noble. Carson and Reese spoke during the program.

Windy Noble, with the VFW Auxiliary and Chairman of the VFW Youth Programs, presented the Voice of Democracy student awards.
High School winners of the Voice of Democracy Patriotic Audio Essay Competition
(9th-12th grade), writing on the theme "Is this the country the Founders envisioned?":
1st Place: Emmaline R. Vrska
2nd Place: Adrianna F. Daniels
3rd Place: Kirsten D. Klaren

Winners of the Middle School Patriots Pen Youth Essay
Competition
(6th-8th grade), writing on the theme "What is Patriotism to
Me?":
1st Place: Reece J. Woolwine
2nd Place: Joel Q. Edwards
3rd Place: Lincoln D. Kemp

Community Recognition:
Recognition of Continuity in Military Families:
Randy & Julie Belton (Randy served in the US Marine Corps, Julie in the US Navy)
Phil & Renee Vrska (Renee endured and supported Phil serving four active duty tours)
Trevor & Loren Wilcox (Trevor, a recent graduate of Pinedale High School, is now serving in the Wyoming National Guard)

Local World War II veterans: Monte Skinner and George Ditton

Three Awards were given out by Michael Edison, Commander of the Phillips-Edwards Post 47 American Legion Post:

Freedom of the Press Award: Bob Rule, KPIN 101.1FM Radio - "For supporting the mission of the American Legion and promoting Americanism. For exercising the 1st Amendment Right of Freedom of Speech. For having the courage to be a "Watchdog" for the American People and sharing his findings with us as a member of the Free and Independent Press."

Constitutional Freedom Award: Landon Call, Wyoming State Trooper

Commanders Award: Ted Reinwald, Korean War Veteran. "In recognition for his honorable service to God, Family and Country during the Korean War, 1950 to 1953, and in support and defense of the U.S. Constitution, indeed we honor and thank Ted for his service to his fellow man."

Additional thanks was given to Ultra Petroleum who sponsored the live broadcast of this year’s Veterans Day program on KPIN Radio.

Later in the evening, the VFW sponsored a Patriots/Veterans Recognition Cruise down Pine Street between 6-7PM. The VFW had refreshments.

Randy Belton noted that there are 532 veterans currently in Sublette County, Wyoming.
WWII: 5%
Korea: 9%
Vietnam: 55%
Gulf War Era: 22%
Op Enduring Freedom/Op Iraqi Freedom: 9%

Randy Belton read the following poem during the community Veterans Day program:

I AM A VETERAN
by Andrea Christensen Brett

You may not know me the first time we meet
I’m just another – you see on the street
But I am the reason you walk and breathe free
I am the reason for your liberty

I AM A VETERAN

I work in the local factory all day
I own the restaurant just down the way
I sell you insurance, I start your IV
I’ve got the best-looking grandkids you’ll ever see

I’m your grocer, your banker
Your children’s schoolteacher
I’m your plumber, your barber
Your family’s preacher
But there’s part of me you don’t know very well
Just listen a moment, I’ve a story to tell

I AM A VETERAN

I joined the service while still in my teens
I traded my prom dress for camouflage greens
I’m the first in my family to do something like this
I followed my father, like he followed his

Defying my fears and hiding my doubt
I married my sweetheart before I shipped out
I missed Christmas, then Easter
The birth of my son
But I knew I was doing what had to be done

I served on the battlefront, I served on the base
I bound up the wounded
And begged for God’s grace
I gave orders to fire, I followed commands
I marched into conflict in far distant lands

In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores
In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors
While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea
My family and friends were home praying for me

For the land of the free and the home of the brave
I faced my demons in foxholes and caves
Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife
I lost an arm, my buddy lost his life

I came home and moved on
But forever was changed
The perils of war in my memory remained
I don’t really say much, I don’t feel like I can
But I left home a child, and came home a man

There are thousands like me
Thousands more who are gone
But their legacy lives as time marches on
White crosses in rows
And names carved in queue
Remind us of what these brave souls had to do

I’m part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band
Of each man and each woman
Who has served this great land
And when Old Glory waves
I stand proud, I stand tall
I helped keep her flying over you, over all

Click on this link for a copy of the Pinedale 2020 Veterans Day program (PDF)