CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Oct. 29, Governor Mark Gordon, members of the Wyoming National Guard Historical Society, the Wyoming State Museum, and veterans gathered to rededicate a restored Spanish‑American War memorial. The statue, which honors the 14 Wyoming soldiers who gave their lives in the brief 1898 conflict, now stands east of the Capitol building, facing the Wyoming State Museum.
History of the monument
The memorial was originally dedicated in 1905 on the Capitol Complex grounds after the Wyoming Volunteer Aid Society, a group of dedicated Wyoming women, raised funds for it. The statue, modeled after a soldier from Waco, Texas, was placed near the Capitol rotunda where soldiers took their oath of enlistment.
Over the next century the monument was moved several times, suffered vandalism in the 1990s, and fell into disrepair. By the early 2000s, officials estimated nearly $12,000 would be needed to restore it.
Restoration and storage
During a four‑year Capitol Complex renovation project in 2018, the statue was disassembled and placed in off‑site storage. While stored, the statue underwent extensive repairs to address missing fingers, chips, scratches, and discoloration.
Wyoming National Guard Historical Society members Rosalind Schliske and retired Colonel Larry Barttelbort located the statue’s pieces at a state museum storage facility in late 2023. Funding for reinstallation was secured in the state’s 2024 supplemental budget.
Rededication ceremony
At the Oct. 29 ceremony, Governor Gordon said the memorial “makes a powerful statement about what makes the United States of America the special place it is” and highlighted Wyoming’s tradition of defending liberty and honor. He added, “The war was very short, but Americans and Wyoming people were willing, as we always are, to step up to defend our country, our honor and the independence and liberties we so value.”
Adjutant General Greg Porter echoed the sentiment, noting that the oath to defend the Constitution connects generations of service members. “I hope it connects maybe those that have not served, but know why we serve: for you,” he said, urging attendees to bring future generations to the site.
Looking forward
The restored monument now stands proudly outside the Wyoming State Museum, facing east toward the Philippines, the theater of the original conflict. The ceremony honored both the fallen soldiers and the women who fought a century ago to ensure their remembrance.
Porter challenged the crowd: “Bring a child, a grandchild, a neighbor. Stand where we are standing. Point to that soldier and tell them about the volunteers who took the oath and the families who remember them. A memorial only lasts while we’re here to remember it.”
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
