(Fremont County, WY) – Folks across the county turned out for Memorial Day 2025 at the various ceremonies this morning, where they paid their respects to our fallen heroes.
County 10 attended four of the ceremonies held today: Hudson, Riverton, Fort Washakie, and Lander.
Hudson
After acknowledging the attendance of Senators Eli Bebout (Senate District 26) and Cale Case (Senate District 25), Hudson Mayor Sherry Oler introduced the ceremony’s speaker, House District 54 Representative Lloyd Larsen.
Representative Larsen spoke of the many Veterans in wars past with ties to the Hudson community, many of whom had family in attendance at the service.
“Hudson, little coal mining town settled by immigrants,” Representative Larsen commented in his address. “You folks here, that never sidestepped or shied away when the call came to serve. You sent your sons and daughters, some which, never returned.”
“…If we think of Christ-like acts, in my mind, nothing could be more Christ-like than somebody giving their life so that those that they know and all of those that they don’t know can continue on having the freedoms to speak, to worship, to become what they want to become,” Representative Larsen later concluded in his speech.
“I think that there’s… sacredness warranted as we contemplate those lives that were lost. Not to take away from anything that those that returned and served, but we can’t forget those whose lives were lost, (so) that we might live. I hope today, I hope through this upcoming year that you’ll have a chance to contemplate a little bit… because I think that these lives mattered. They mattered to me. They mattered to this country. They matter to the state. Hudson should be proud.”
Riverton
The Riverton Ceremony was held this morning at Mountain View Cemetery, where those in attendance heard from Riverton’s American Legion Commander, Warren Hess.
Commander Hess recited the poem “I am the Flag,” originally entitled “My Name is Old Glory” by Howard Schnauber.
I Am the Flag
I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom. I am confident.
I am arrogant. I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped – I am saluted.
I am loved – I am revered.
I am respected – I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I was there. I led my troops.
I was dirty, battleworn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries
I have helped set free. It does not hurt for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled in the streets of my country.
And when it’s done by those whom I’ve served in battle – it hurts.
But I shall overcome – for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of earth and
stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have born silent witness to all of America’s finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battle field,
when I am flown at halfmast to honor my soldier,
or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.
I am the flag of the United States of America.
Fort Washakie
The American Legion Richard Pogue Post 81 conducted the ceremony at the Fort Washakie Service, held at the Path of Honor Wind River Reservation Veterans Memorial next to the Frank B. Wise Business Center.
Scout River, fronted by lead singer Willow Pingree, performed the prayer and honor songs, and closed with a rendition of “Soldier Boy” before the Post headed to the services at the WWII Memorial Wind River Agency, the Washakie Cemetery, and the Sacajawea Cemetery.
Lander
Dozens gathered at the service in Lander, held at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Keith Trouwborst of Lander’s American Legion read a mayoral proclamation on behalf of Lander Mayor Missy White, which declared May 26, 2025, as Frank L. Paddleford Day for Lander. Paddleford’s son, Monte, was in attendance to receive the framed proclamation
