This weekend when the Cowboys take the field against Texas State, take a moment to visit the newly established Veterans Memorial Plaza, now located right by the northeast corner of War Memorial Stadium. Soldiers of the past, present and future gathered on the brisk grey morning of Saturday, September 23, to recognize the service and sacrifices of Wyoming veterans and witness the unveiling of a new addition to the Plaza.
The Plaza was recently rededicated to honor all Wyoming veterans in a ceremony attended by high-ranking military officers, Governor Matt Mead, and Laramie’s own WWII veteran, Bob Willis, along with Laramie community members, UW officials, representatives of the Wyoming state legislature, and ROTC and Navy cadets.
“What we have designed here today is something very special,” said Larry Barttelbort, retired Wyoming Army National Guard colonel, as he began the proceedings of the ceremony following a traditional military bugle call. Barttelbort is a former Wyoming Veterans Commission Director and was the chairman of the group that took charge of the Plaza’s redesign and relocation from the site of the new High Altitude Performance Center.
Barttelbort drew particular attention to the six flags that would be raised—one for each of the military’s five branches, as well as the black flag that stands for prisoners of war and those missing in action.
“We have more than 250 Wyoming men and women who are still unaccounted for,” Barttelbort said.
Gov. Mead soon took the podium and delivered a speech written on his own hand.
“As we look upon our veterans, we know their eyes have seen much,” said Governor Mead. “They don’t just see stars, stripes, red white and blue—they look upon it through a lens of memories, of friendships, family and lives lost. May we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Following the governor, President Nichols recognized the University’s veterans. ROTC service was a requirement for all male UW students in the near past, and more than 700 veterans are currently in attendance.
One highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of a new statue, created by Cody artist Jeff Rudolph. The statue is a detailed rendition of the Battlefield Cross in the WWII motif. The practice of these markers began during the Civil War and continues today, as fallen soldiers are honored with an upright arrangement of their boots, rifle, helmet, and dog tags.
Bob Willis, WWII veteran and retired dentist, was assisted by Governor Mead and President Nichols as he removed the olive drab shelter to reveal the statue. Willis was wounded during the decisive Battle of the Bulge, in which he and more than half a million fellow soldiers stood against the final German offensive of the war. They fought in freezing conditions in the dense forests of Ardennes for more than a month as the German center, comprised of elite troops hand-picked by Hitler, pushed the Allied line back but never broke it—hence the battle’s name.
The ceremony was concluded with a solemn playing of “Amazing Grace” by Laramie bagpiper John Savry and a 21-gun salute—another practice that originated on the battlefield, in a time when three volleys would be fired to conclude ceasefires during which each side would retrieve their dead. Today, an honor guard of seven fires those volleys to indicate that the fallen have been properly honored and laid to rest.
The ceremony was especially meaningful for the cadets who stood at stoic attention from beginning to end despite the cold.
“It’s kind of eerie being part of this, in a way,” said ROTC cadet Victoria Craig. “One day it’ll be us standing there as veterans.”
Another ROTC cadet, Katelynn Dietz, has already felt the loss of a veteran. Her cousin, Danny Dietz, was an elite Navy SEAL and the Communications Operator for SEAL Team 10. He and all but one member of his team were killed in action in a covert mission against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
