Serving all of Eastern Laramie County since 1908
Serving all of Eastern Laramie County since 1908
Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 330
Storm Xylia hit Wyoming with a vengeance leaving Pine Bluffs more than knee deep in snow. The Town of Pine Bluffs responded to a call of action utilizing their snow removal plan. "This was a very wet and heavy snow, and we were fortunate to not have suffered structural damage to buildings and trees in the city." stated Kim Patterson, Treasurer. "We had a plan in place and it worked, especially with all the volunteers from the town with their tractors, skid steers and plows. We would really like...
National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29 honors the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States history. It was on March 29, 1973, when combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. Generations later, Veterans of this time period are gaining the respect that was not so freely given upon their return. Involving five U.S. presidents, crossing nearly two decades and 500,000 U.S. military personnel, it left an indelible mark on the...
Rhonda A. Rasgorshek Rhonda A. Rasgorshek was raised in a military home. She was born at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, went to school at Edwards AFB in California, and then transferred down to Howard AFB, Panama with her father, James Merryfield. Rasgorshek moved again, but this time to Kimball, Nebraska, while her dad finished his tour in Panama. This military influence would put a call into her years later. She graduated from high school in Belleville Illinois and headed back to Nebraska to...
On a cold January, Kevin Curtis was born in Fitzsimons Army Hospital - known as Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (FAMC) in Aurora, Colorado, USA. The facility opened in 1918 after World I and closed in 1999. This would be the beginning of his support and thanks to the United States military. Curtis would grow up not to far from Fitzsimons in Loveland, Colorado where he would graduate from Campion Academy. From graduation on Curtis would find himself in the workforce, yet he felt a driving force...
On Feb. 3, 1943, four Army chaplains – Father John P. Washington, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, and the Revs. George L. Fox and Clark V. Poling – gave up their life jackets on a sinking Army transport in the North Atlantic so that others might live. Of the 902 soldiers, Navy armed guard, ship's crew and civilian passengers on board the Dorchester, only 230 survived. They have told us of the chaplains' efforts to restore calm in a hopeless and chaotic situation, and how they were last seen at the...
Keith Baker was born in Kimball Nebraska to Charles and Ruth Baker in 1962. He would grow up in the Albin, Wyoming area, attending schools in the area. Baker would graduate from Albin High School in May of 1980. Baker, whose family was rich in military history, decided to follow in his uncle's footsteps. "I wanted to serve my country. With two of my uncles that had served in the military, I also would share military history with two cousins whom had served as well." stated Baker. From high...
Many have heard it, and for many, it is a emotionally choking moment, with tears that will silently fall, as the tune is played. Understanding it's origin, and why it is played goes to the heart of any military family. In the 1960's, "taps" was not only played at a funeral signifying the end of the tour for a veteran, but it was played when the American flag was retired for the day. The Origin of taps The origins of "taps," the distinctive bugle melody played at U.S. military funerals and...
The Origin of Military Challenge Coins The most commonly held view is that the tradition of the military coin began in the United States Army Air Service (a forerunner of the current United States Air Force). Air warfare was a new phenomenon during World War I, when the army created flying squadrons and manned them with volunteer pilots from every walk of civilian life. Most pilots were wealthy Ivy League students who were drawn by the adventure and romance of the new form of warfare. One Ivy Le...
A1C (E-3) Layne Ring on a recent trip home to visit his mother, and his family, before heading to his new base in Japan. Ring was born in Kimball Nebraska on January 17, 1994 to Tricia Ring, but resided in Pine Bluffs. Ring and his family would move in 1996 to Algoma, Wisconsin, where he would start school and reside for several years. Due to jobs, his family would move a couple more times, until they settled in Illinois. Ring would finish school there and graduate from Mattoon, Illinois High Sc...
During every war since the civil war, our troops have been deployed or served on Christmas Day. In the history of the Civil War, Christmas was not forgotten. Soldiers would sing Christmas songs and decorate their tents with hard-tack and salt pork. Fighting was temporarily ceased during World War I with the Christmas Truce along the Western Front. This "Truce" ended in 1916. During Christmas' of World War II there were no "Christmas Truce" as in World War I. In the history of World War II,...
While Joshua Davis was born in Tulare, California December 4 1975, he does not claim to be a Californian. He spent his early years up to five years of age in California with his parents: Earl Davis, Sharron Conley. Davis spent most of his high school years in Felts Mills, New York, which is just outside gate 2 of Fort Drum, New York. Most of his friend's parents were military. "Most of my friend's parents were military and growing up just off base in a small town with no real economy lead most...
Part of the call to the military is a call to serve. This is a way of life that stays with so many of the military veterans and their families. It is also a strong part of the American Legion. The Donald Eisenhauer American Legion Post 60 in Pine Bluffs takes this to heart and is always looking for ways we can continue service to our veterans. One such service recently came to the attention of the Commander, John Wise, and to the President of the Auxiliary Unit 60, Diane Wise. A member of the...
Red, White and Blue! These colors we have all seen, raised our eyes to, and stood with pride saluting her. This is the American Flag. Through her history she has seen pride in the men and women who carry her, to the anger when someone disgraces her, to the tears that have fallen, as she is draped over a coffin of a fallen soldier. This Flag has been called many things: The Stars and Stripes, The Red, White, and Blue, The Star Spangled Banner, and Old Glory. She is found on the grounds of state capitals, post offices, city and town offices, stat...
East coast born and raised Brian Higgins, son of John and Mildred Higgins, has made his move to Wyoming. Higgins grew up in the nice little town of Bristol, Maine. He graduated from Lincoln Academy, Newcastle, Maine in 1989. In his late teens and early 20's, he was a member of the Bristol Fire & Rescue as a volunteer fireman and licensed first responder. After working in Camden, Maine as a life guard and swimming instructor at the local YMCA, he joined the Air Force active duty in 1993. "I...
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.) History of Veterans Day...
Deanna Hurless was born July 19, 1960 in LaGrande Oregon to Laren and MaryAnn Hurless. Hurless would grow up in Oregon and graduated from Cascade Union High School, Turner Oregon in May 1978. Serving one's country was not a new concept for Hurless. She comes from a history of family serving their country since the Civil War. "My plan after graduating was to go into the military because of my patriotism." she stated. "With my family history it was a natural path to walk down." she added. Her...
The year was 1775,. The Second Continental Congress of the United States passed a resolution creating the Continental Navy. At this time the Continental Navy consisted of converted merchantmen because of the lack of funding, manpower, and resources, with exclusively designed warships being built later. The Continental Navy was a success and stemmed from the efforts of the Continental Congress and patron John Adams. It's main goal was to interrupt British maritime commercial operations. As the...
Life started out in Laramie, WY where Michael Hobbs was born to Michael Glenn Hobbs and Sylvia Karen Hobbs. During his childhood he would move to Alliance, Nebraska. Hobbs would graduate from Alliance High School in 1999. His heart is still true to his "Bulldogs" of Alliance. "My grandfather was in the United States Air Force, and while I had this dream of going in the military and becoming a United States Marine, it just wasn't in the cards." Hobbs stated. "I loved to hear the stories from my g...
Ricky "Rick" Ramos was born at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas on May 18, 1968 to Manuel E., and Merry Ramos. Ramos would graduate from Belle Plaine High School, Belle Plaine, Ks in 1987. While some seniors know what they are going to do after graduation, many struggle with the decision and then staying with it. For Ramos, it was easy with a very strong military presence in his family. His father Manuel, served in the United States Air Force, in the Philippines, during the Vietnam War. Prior...
My father before me was a United States Air Force veteran. He served over twenty years. My time as a United States Air Force veteran was much shorter. Then came my husband, Jim, who retired at almost twenty-one years. After his retirement, our daughter Rhonda Rasgorshek served active duty in the Wyoming Air Guard. All of us are someone's child who served in the military. As with any branch of service, our soldiers can be sent to a war zone, be assigned to foreign countries where there is unrest...
Gary Ray Hobbs was born in Wheatland Wyoming August of 1963, to Larry and Carrie Hobbs. My Mother passed away suddenly in November of last year. (2 Older Sisters) Trina Miller of Wheatland and Evelyn Hanson of Denver. Hobbs graduated Wheatland High School 1981. He joined the Wyoming Army National Guard in 1983 as a Wheeled vehicle mechanic for the 133rd Combat Support Engineer Company, and spent 10 years with that company, as a wheeled mechanic, equipment operator then to a Heavy Equipment...
The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is a community of volunteers serving veterans, military, and their families. Our members also support the mission of The American Legion in improving the quality of life for our nation's veterans. Proud sponsor of ALA Girls Nation, National Poppy Day® and recognized for advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill, the more than 600,000 ALA members across the country volunteer millions of hours annually and raise millions of dollars in service to veterans,...
In keeping an eight year tradition, the members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 60, Pine Bluffs have gathered school supplies and delivered them to the Pine Bluffs Elementary School. "We do fund raisers throughout the year and put some into the different areas we work. One of these groups is Children and Youth." said Jo Radcliffe With the recent events, COVID-19 and people unable to work, buying school supplies is sometimes more difficult than normal. The American Legion Auxiliary has...
Not all who help Veterans are Veterans...but there is a strong tie there. Thus, we have the new "Veterans' Rock". Members of Veterans Voluntary Services have joined together and formed the new "Veterans' Rock" and the 501(c)3 is solely for the support of Veterans and their families. "Our mission is Rock solid support for homeless Veterans, Veterans in need, and their families. We will be their foundation on which to build a new household and a new life." stated Cindy Stockdale, one of the board...
Though Lori J. Apala was born in California, she would not stay a "native" to that state. Apala would find her way heading towards her Chickasaw heritage and the midwest. Apala was born in 1960 in the town of San Bernardino, California to Jesse and Frances Apala. As a young child, she would experience tragedy with the death of her mother at the age of six. This would be a turning point in her young life. At the age of ten, she was adopted by Jack and Ella Gaffaney. They would take her away from...
