Libby remembers its fallen vets at Memorial Day ceremony

Military veterans and family members of those who have served the United States in times of war gathered Monday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial in Riverfront Park to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

It was the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the Veterans Memorial.

According to a previous story in The Western News, four men, Ken Mancuso, Terry Andreessen, Dennis Osborne and Brent Teske met in 2012 and began the work to build the monument. The ambitious fundraising effort brought in nearly $150,000 in less than two years to create a lasting memorial to the fallen and living members of the U.S. military. The statue was placed in Riverfront Park just prior to Veterans Day of 2013 and it was completed prior to Memorial Day 2014. 

The memorial includes a life-sized bronze statue of a World War II-era soldier pulling a wounded, modern-era soldier to safety as they return fire. The design of the statue was drawn by local artist Todd Berget and the mold for the bronze was shaped by local sculptor Scott Lennard.

At Monday’s ceremony, a trio of Libby High School students, Keyera Haischer, Lylla Pape and Rachel Smith, sang the National Anthem.

Patty Rambo, whose brother Arthur John Rambo died in Vietnam, read the Pledge of Allegiance.

Many veterans spoke of those they served with, some read the names of soldiers they served with who gave their lives in combat.

“We gather here because we miss our comrades in arms,” Mancuso said. “We worked our tails off to get this monument done so that we may remember those that served, are serving and will serve. God Bless America!”

Veteran Mark Radzwion recalled the reason for Memorial Day events, “The 1.2 million patriots who gave their lives in defense of our country.”

Gold Star mother Lorraine Braun spoke of her children that have served or are currently serving. 

“I love the military and I’m so proud of those who serve,” Braun said. “I have six kids that were or are in the military. I became a Gold Star mother four years ago when I lost one of my children.”

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Jules Watson died Nov. 4, 2020, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Watson successfully battled Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma but a year later his weakened immune system was unable to win a four-month battle from complications of Covid-19.

The service concluded with Libby Legion Post 97 Chaplain Naomi Miller offering a prayer in honor of the veterans past, present and future, and Libby High School freshman Riley Stoltz playing, “Taps.”

    Members of the Libby VFW Post 1548 Color Guard participated in a Memorial Day program on May 27, 2024, at River Front Park in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A trio of Libby High School choir students, Keyera Haischer, Lylla Pape and Rachel Smith, sang the National Anthem at the Memorial Day program on May 27, 2024, at River Front Park in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Austin F. Reedy Post 97 Auxiliary member Naomi Miller reads a prayer for veterans past, present and future during a Memorial Day program on May 27, 2024, at River Front Park in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Troy VFW Post 5514 member Bill Lafrance spoke at the Memorial Day program on May 27, 2024, at River Front Park in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)