Casper College hosts ‘World War II Traveling Memorial’
The Casper College Veterans Club is sponsoring the “World War II Traveling Memorial” June 7-13 in the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center parking lot.
The memorial will arrive in Casper Sunday, June 6, and will be officially opened at 8 a.m. Monday, June 7. The memorial will remain open 24 hours a day until it closes Sunday, June 13, at 5 p.m. In addition, Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts will speak at the college that same Monday at 7 p.m.
“The memorial is a replica of the actual memorial in the U.S. Capitol, containing 4,048 gold stars, each one representing 100 American military deaths,” said Nicholas Whipps, Ed.D., veteran and international student coordinator at Casper Colleges. The memorial, created by Freedom’s Never Free, features the Wall of Stars, aka the Wall of Freedom, the Atlantic and Pacific Pavilions, and 56 pillars and stands with oak and wheat wreaths.
Whipps noted that a special memorial escort would take place Sunday, June 6. “This is an excellent opportunity for folks to honor the ‘World War II Traveling Memorial’ and escort it to Casper from Douglas. The escort is open to all modes of transportation, and fraternal organizations are welcome and encouraged to be a part of this event,” Whipps said. “Groups are asked to arrive one hour early, and the event will be stage based on weather and vehicle type, with veterans taking priority,” he added.
The escort is scheduled to start at the Broken Wheel Truck Stop at 10:30 a.m. At 11:15, the escort will take a detour off Interstate 25 on exit 160 to travel through Glenrock. The escort will meet at the Hat Six Travel Center at 11:45 and arrive at the Casper College campus at 12:45 p.m.
Volunteers are needed for the two flag lines. The first will be June 6 at noon to welcome the memorial, and the second will be June 7 at 5:15 p.m. to welcome Medal of Honor recipient Pitts.
“This is our fourth year hosting a national memorial and having a flag line. Being a part of a flag line is special, something those participating will never forget. There is something that always gives you goosebumps when you see 150 American flags lined up,” noted Whipps. The deadline to sign up for one or both flag lines is Friday, June 4.
All events are free and open to the public. Pitt’s presentation will take place in the Wheeler Concert Hall, located in the Music Building on the Casper College campus, and is sponsored by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the Casper College Foundation.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Whipps at 307-268-2510 or nwhipps@caspercollege.edu.