In collaboration with the City of Sheridan, Whitney Benefits has renamed the park west of Whitney Commons to Patriot Park and the city renamed that area of sidewalk the Patriot Pathway to honor all those who have served, and especially those that lost their lives, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

Gold Star Families Memorial Monument

The Whitney Benefits Foundation is honored to work in collaboration with the WYO W.E.S.T. Warrior Foundation, a local foundation started in 2016 that has a 100% volunteer board consisting of Col. Scott Morey, Brad Walden, Kent Sherwood, Ryan King, Tyler Baltz, Mark Torbert, Paul Belt, Brad Thimmesch, and Jason Peterson, to place Wyoming’s first Gold Star Family Memorial Monument in Patriot Park. Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments are a two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side bears the words: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom. The other side tells a story through the four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. The scenes on each panel are a reflection of each community’s Gold Star Families and their fallen heroes. At the center of this tribute is a silhouette of the loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. The idea and implementation of Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments were started by Cpl. Hershel Woody Williams and the Woody Williams Foundation. Williams was born on a dairy farm in 1923 in Quiet Dell, West Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. During the battle, Williams displayed “valiant devotion to duty” and service above self as he “enabled his company to reach its objective.” Williams’ actions, commitment to his fellow service members and heroism were recognized Oct. 5, 1945, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House. Williams’ devotion to duty, service members, veterans, and their families began long before that battle and before he entered the Corps. As World War II began, Woody came into direct contact with families in his own community when he delivered Western Union telegrams informing the Gold Star families of the death of their loved one. Woody always said those experiences gave him a “greater appreciation for life and an understanding of a difference in death in the normal world as expected in life, and those lost serving in the military for their country.” He noted “consideration and recognition of the families of those lost in military service was very inadequate.” This observation and his personal commitment to veterans and their families brought about the creation of the Woody Williams Foundation. To date, Woody’s foundation is responsible for establishing 113 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the U.S. with more than 68 additional monuments underway in 50 states and one U.S. Territory. The foundation continues to grow its reach by being involved in multiple initiatives across the country. On June 29, 2022, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woody Williams, would go to his final duty station in heaven. He had devoted his life to serving others. Before he passed, he left clear orders to all to be a part of the mission to never forget. He would want us all to remember his motto: “The Cause is Greater than I...” Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments provide a place of permanence for Gold Star Families to gather. These monuments belong to them and their fallen loved ones. They are intended to achieve the following goals: • Establish and provide a space the Gold Star Families can call their own in honor of their loved ones and their family. • Demonstrate to Gold Star Families that their community cares for them and appreciates their sacrifice while also honoring the ultimate sacrifice of their loved ones. • Establish and strengthen local Gold Star Family communities through Gold Star Family outreach events associated with each monument location. • Educate the general public about Gold Star Families’ enduring sacrifices and the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones. Return to Whitney Commons

In collaboration with the City of Sheridan, Whitney Benefits has renamed the park west of Whitney Commons to Patriot Park and the city renamed that area of sidewalk the Patriot Pathway to honor all those who have served, and especially those that lost their lives, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

Gold Star Families Memorial

Monument

The Whitney Benefits Foundation is honored to work in collaboration with the WYO W.E.S.T. Warrior Foundation, a local foundation started in 2016 that has a 100% volunteer board consisting of Col. Scott Morey, Brad Walden, Kent Sherwood, Ryan King, Tyler Baltz, Mark Torbert, Paul Belt, Brad Thimmesch, and Jason Peterson, to place Wyoming’s first Gold Star Family Memorial Monument in Patriot Park. Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments are a two-sided tribute made of black granite. One side bears the words: Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom. The other side tells a story through the four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. The scenes on each panel are a reflection of each community’s Gold Star Families and their fallen heroes. At the center of this tribute is a silhouette of the loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. The idea and implementation of Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments were started by Cpl. Hershel Woody Williams and the Woody Williams Foundation. Williams was born on a dairy farm in 1923 in Quiet Dell, West Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. During the battle, Williams displayed “valiant devotion to duty” and service above self as he “enabled his company to reach its objective.” Williams’ actions, commitment to his fellow service members and heroism were recognized Oct. 5, 1945, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House. Williams’ devotion to duty, service members, veterans, and their families began long before that battle and before he entered the Corps. As World War II began, Woody came into direct contact with families in his own community when he delivered Western Union telegrams informing the Gold Star families of the death of their loved one. Woody always said those experiences gave him a “greater appreciation for life and an understanding of a difference in death in the normal world as expected in life, and those lost serving in the military for their country.” He noted “consideration and recognition of the families of those lost in military service was very inadequate.” This observation and his personal commitment to veterans and their families brought about the creation of the Woody Williams Foundation. To date, Woody’s foundation is responsible for establishing 113 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments across the U.S. with more than 68 additional monuments underway in 50 states and one U.S. Territory. The foundation continues to grow its reach by being involved in multiple initiatives across the country. On June 29, 2022, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel Woody Williams, would go to his final duty station in heaven. He had devoted his life to serving others. Before he passed, he left clear orders to all to be a part of the mission to never forget. He would want us all to remember his motto: “The Cause is Greater than I...” Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments provide a place of permanence for Gold Star Families to gather. These monuments belong to them and their fallen loved ones. They are intended to achieve the following goals: • Establish and provide a space the Gold Star Families can call their own in honor of their loved ones and their family. • Demonstrate to Gold Star Families that their community cares for them and appreciates their sacrifice while also honoring the ultimate sacrifice of their loved ones. • Establish and strengthen local Gold Star Family communities through Gold Star Family outreach events associated with each monument location. • Educate the general public about Gold Star Families’ enduring sacrifices and the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones. Return to Whitney Commons