Missoula residents assembled on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for the 100th annual Veterans Day ceremony held in front of the historic Doughboy statue outside the Missoula County Courthouse. The event, reported by NBC Montana, commemorated a century of honoring Montana veterans who lost their lives in World War I and World War II, with the statue itself having been constructed in 1926.
The ceremony began at the traditional 11th hour with a three‑volley salute performed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honor guard. Following the salute, veterans from the Vietnam War addressed the crowd, sharing personal reflections on their overseas service. “Our culture, our civilization, our system generally you know accepts and honors and treats veterans pretty well these days but that hasn’t always been the case,” said David Ley, commander of VFW Post 209, emphasizing the day’s role in allowing veterans to tell their stories.
Pat Collins, a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, highlighted the strong youth presence, noting, “You know this 100‑year anniversary is a big deal, so lots of us won’t be here you know the next one and the ones after that so we have to keep this going. And I am really impressed with the number of young folks that showed up today.” Collins’ comment underscored the community’s intergenerational commitment to remembering service members.
After the remarks, the ceremony concluded with the placement of wreaths at the base of the Doughboy statue. Veterans representing World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq‑Afghanistan conflicts each laid a wreath, symbolizing the broad span of service honored at the event.
David Ley summed up the significance of the day, stating, “It’s a recognition of the service and sacrifice that the men and women who chose to serve in uniform made. Sacrificing their bodies, their youth, and a lot of times their innocence to advance the American dream and to provide for their communities.” The ceremony’s timing—held on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour—reinforced the traditional reverence associated with Veterans Day.
Sources: nbcmontana.com
