Byron citizens, former citizens and others from north Big Horn County gathered on a balmy July morning Saturday to pay respect to veterans from Byron who served their country in the armed forces.


The dedication of the Byron Veterans Memorial Park was part of the Byron Community Day celebration Saturday.
The ceremony began with a raising-of-the-flag ceremony performed by the Buffalo Bill Young Marines, who hoisted a large American flag onto the newly-installed flag pole.


Master of ceremonies Steve Wirth said he was proud of all veterans, noting that “all gave some and some gave all.”


Ray Havig, who took on the task of gathering the names of Byron veterans from his late brother Dick, not only played the National Anthem on his trumpet, he then gave a history of the project, noting that the park and memorial is “dedicated to all Byron veterans who valiantly served our nation in times of war or peace.”


Havig thanked members of the veterans committee: Wirth, Jackie Hecht, Waldo Jensen, Jesse Winzenried, Jack Hessenthaler, Janet Haddix, RB Smith and Havig.
Other highlights included Bret Savage and Wade Brost singing Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American,” Hazel Doerr leading the crowd in “God Bless America” and a veterans address by True Hatch.


“Freedom is something you can’t buy,” Hatch said. “Our armed forces have provided freedom for this country. Men died for that freedom.”


“Pure freedom,” Hatch said, is being able to go shopping without fear of being blown up by a bomb, something the people of Iraq and other countries do not have.


“There’s fear in those countries,” he said. “I’ve seen it, people not knowing whether to trust their neighbors. Here, your neighbor can do what he wants within the law. It’s a hard job protecting everyone in the country so they can be whatever they want to be.”


Hatch thanked the citizens for their support and called the support “something that touches you deep inside.” He also thanked veterans “who gave everything” as well as the many veterans being honored with the park.


Wirth presented Mayor Milton Meier with an American flag for the Town of Byron that has flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington. The flag was provided by Sen. Mike Enzi.