MONDAY, May 18, 2026 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Museum flies their donated Betsy Ross flag – Courtesy Liz Ellis
Members of the Carbon County 250 Committee continued presenting commemorative flags to every municipality and museum.
Earlier this month, Bigfoot99 and Bandit102 reported that during the May 5th Rawlins City Council meeting, the governing body proclaimed its intention to participate in the county’s observance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik presented the governing body with a 13‑star Betsy Ross flag to fly during the upcoming celebrations.
Mensik, local author Candy Moulton, and museum directors Tim Nicklas, Angie Hobbs, Lela Emmons, and Justin Horn are part of the Carbon County 250 Committee, formed in early 2025 to support the county’s semi quincentennial efforts.
Local members of the 250 committee presented proclamations and commemorative flags to every municipality in Carbon County. Saratoga Museum Director Justin Horn gave the town its Betsy Ross flag on May 6th.
The following Monday, May 11th, the 250 committee members were in Medicine Bow. Town Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath explained that the committee asked Mayor Justin George to sign the proclamation celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Commissioner Sue Jones, a member of the Carbon County 250 Committee, asked the Medicine Bow Town Council to proclaim the town’s intention to join the county’s 250 celebrations called Journeys to Carbon County.
Every town was presented with the same proclamation. Clerk Heath read the statement.
Clerk Heath continued reading the proclamation, noting that Carbon County is shaped by the journeys of Indigenous peoples, westward‑moving emigrants and settlers, railroad workers and miners who built towns, and ranching families whose traditions persist to this day. The county will mark the semi quincentennial by highlighting the spirit of exploration that continues to draw people to the region. While its roots are in coal and copper, Carbon County now places greater emphasis on adventure and recreation.
Sunrise Sanitation in Saratoga, owned by Sue Jones, purchased and donated Betsy Ross flags to every town and museum in the county. Jones said the flags are recognized as an official design by the federal government and asked Medicine Bow to display it in July.
After presenting the flag, Jones said Discover Carbon County, also known as the Carbon County Visitors Council, provided funding for the 250 Committee to produce a short documentary on the history of Carbon County that will premiere during the July celebrations. Jones added that the federal government provided states with funding for their individual 250 celebrations. The Carbon County 250 Committee is directing a portion of that money to the county’s museum organizations, including the Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum.
Mayor Justin George signed the proclamation declaring Medicine Bow’s intention to participate in the county’s 250 celebrations and said he would turn the donated flag over to Museum Director Dawndee Yocom.
The following evening, May 12th, the Hanna Town Council was presented with a Betsy Ross flag and the same proclamation.
Several municipalities in Carbon County have planned their own events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Rawlins will host the county’s main celebration on July 10th, Wyoming Statehood Day.
