(Riverton, WY) – Veterans from across Fremont County were recognized and honored on May 10, as Riverton was one of four stops during Wyoming’s annual Veterans Welcome Home Day. The event brought heartfelt gratitude and long-overdue recognition to those who served, especially Veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Held at Central Wyoming College, the Riverton ceremony featured remarks from Governor Gordon, First Lady Jennie Gordon, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, and U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman, alongside Maj. Gen. Greg Porter, Adjutant General of Wyoming. The officials made it a point to greet every Veteran in attendance, sharing handshakes and stories and presenting each with a commemorative challenge coin.
Porter reminded the Riverton audience of the deeper meaning behind the day: “America’s done a pretty good job of bringing its (servicemembers) home – with two exceptions: the Korean War and the Vietnam War,” Porter said. “Our Vietnam Veterans faced a far different return. They probably wished for an apathetic return. They faced derision, sarcasm, and hate in some cases – certainly disrespect. The purpose of these Welcome Home ceremonies is to take a moment to pause and recommit that we will never let that happen again as a nation.”
Governor Gordon echoed that sentiment, adding, “This day is about saying, ‘Thank you for your service – welcome home.’ That gratitude extends to the families, too.”
The event also included a reading of the state proclamation officially designating March 30, 2025, as Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day, aligning with the anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam.
For more information on resources available to Fremont County Veterans, contact the Wyoming Veterans Commission at (307) 777-8152 or visit wyomingveteranscommission.com.