March 2, 2022 |
More meaningful and true to Wyoming than anything said in the State of the Union Address Tuesday night, where no mention of the 13 soldiers killed in Afghanistan this past August was made, were the words spoken in the State Capitol Building earlier in the day.
And so began tearful tribute in a rare joint session of the Wyoming Legislature Tuesday. Lawmakers put the business of the Budget Session on hold to honor Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, who was killed in Afghanistan while defending the airport at Kabul.
Joining both the House and the Senate in the ceremony that began with a military honor guard were Governor Mark Gordon, First Lady Jennie Gordon, Chief Justice Kate Fox and other state dignitaries. The tribute was the result a resolution drafted this summer shortly after the 20-year-old McCollum of Bondurant, Wyoming was killed. House Speaker Eric Barlow read the resolution, which expressed the legislature’s gratitude for McCollum’s service and sacrifice.
Pictured above: Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum.
McCollum was born on Feb. 26, 2001, in Riverton. He spent his childhood between Dubois and Jackson. He excelled at wrestling in high school. His dad, Jim McCollum, said after his son was killed that Rylee wanted to return home after serving in the military to become a history teacher and wrestling coach.
Yesterday’s solemn tribute was made all the more poignant by the presence of the fallen Marine’s dad, Jim McCollum. With cowboy hat in hand, the Mr. McCollum thanked the lawmakers and recalled his son’s patriotism.
Governor Mark Gordon took the podium to address the legislature, Jim McCollum and the state officials who were in attendance. He vowed that Wyoming would not forget its fallen heroes.
Speaker Barlow then read the names of the 21 military members who have been killed in action since 9/11, including Staff Sergeant Tyler Pickett of Saratoga.
