Planned ‘Wall of Honor’ to recognize every Powell veteran
Legion seeks names, help with project
By CJ BAKER
Powell Tribune Editor
As Powell’s American Legion post prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019, post leaders are planning a new monument to honor every single Powell area veteran who served over the last century.
By Veterans Day 2019, they hope to install a “Wall of Honor” outside Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 that lists the names of every local resident who served in the U.S. military since 1919.
In celebrating the Legion’s 100 years in Powell, “we figured this would be the best thing to give back to the community,” said Post Commander Jerry Clark.
He’s seeking the names of every veteran who’s ever lived in the 82435 zip code — from people who only briefly lived in Powell, Garland, Ralston or Clark to longtime Legion members still in town to veterans buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
“We just want to make sure that we get everybody’s names,” Clark said.
He’s already gathered up the names of nearly 500 veterans buried at Crown Hill and of more than 800 Japanese-Americans who served in the military after being incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center.
Clark asks that people email the names of local veterans to powellwallofhonor@outlook.com — and he asks that anyone who submits a name donate $5 to help cover the cost of the wall.
A Powell Wall of Honor account has been set up at First Bank and Clark is seeking help from contractors or other businesses willing to lend a hand on the project.
The plan is to craft the wall out of titanium, with veterans’ names laser-etched into the metal. Clark envisions the Wall of Honor sitting in front of the Post on South Clark Street, with the monument illuminated at night.
He also plans to put together a book that lists all of the Powell area’s veterans with photos and a little history about their service, along with a list of donors.
Near the wall, Clark intends to bury a 100-year time capsule that features submitted relics from the last century’s conflicts — such as a hat from World War I, a German belt buckle and Japanese sword.
“I think it’s going to be a good thing — a big thing,” Clark said of the project.
He also hopes to work with Powell schools to perhaps put on a downtown flag parade next year and to have students talk with their grandparents about their military service.
For more information, contact Clark at 307-272-5907.
Photo 1
Veterans Jerry Clark (front), Tom Bibbey (back left) and John Bustos (back right) salute the flag during the playing of the National Anthem during a celebration of Veteran’s Day at Powell High School Monday. The local American Legion post is embarking on a new project to honor all of the Powell area’s veterans from the past 100 years.
Powell Tribune photo by Mark Davis
Photo 2
Veteran Tom Bibbey plays taps while Jerry Clark salutes in the background during a celebration of Veteran’s Day at Powell High School Monday. Clark is commander of Hughes-Pittinger Post 26 in Powell and the 2nd Vice Commander of the American Legion for the state of Wyoming.
Powell Tribune photo by Mark Davis