Veterans, family members and the community crowded around the Bountiful Veterans Park on Monday to honor those veterans who served and those who are still serving. The park was built in 2020 next to City Hall. It represents WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War with the names of those who served engraved on the walls. Special programs are held on Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year.

“None of my family served in the military,” said West Bountiful Mayor Ken Romney during the program. “But when my son was 15 he expressed interest in serving in the marines. When he turned 16 he felt he was capable and wanted to join. At 17 right after high school graduation he went to boot camp.”

For a mom, the thought of sending her son off to war was hard, he said. “But my wife and I felt it was what he should do even though we had mixed emotions. We were so proud that he wanted to serve even though we were concerned.”

South Davis Metro Fire Department hoists the flag from the fire engine at the Bountiful Veterans Park. Photo by Becky Ginos.

 At 19 he was in Afghanistan, said Romney. “You don’t grow up quicker than that.”

 If you ask a veteran about their service they downplay it, he said. “They don’t want the attention. I want us to unite in gratitude for the sacrifice you made answering the call of duty. Your bravery will never be forgotten.”

Romney paid tribute to a soldier from West Bountiful who served in Vietnam. “On May 16, 1968, Imlay Scott Widdison’s base camp came under attack. He paid the ultimate sacrifice. He’s still unaccounted for. The sacrifice of our veterans is the reason we live in a country with the great freedoms we have.”

Life is nothing without freedom, said Miranda Hartman, American Legion Girls Nation Senator. “If we’re not free to make our own choices and build a life we can be proud of, someone else will force upon us a life we do not choose. The sacrifices bless all of us with the joy of sovereignty over our own lives.”

The opposite of freedom is captivity, she said. “If we don’t have freedom what do we have? To me, freedom is everything because of those who sacrificed and gave their lives for the cause. I’ll be eternally grateful for the veterans and those currently serving for their sacrifice. It will be forever remembered.”

“There have been 263 names added to the wall since Memorial Day,” said Ron Mortensen, PhD. Vietnam Era Air Force. “Another 50 will be engraved before Memorial Day.”

There are 5.7 million people who served in the Korean War, he said. “They’re rapidly passing on.”

Two-year-old Adelaide Silcox gets behind the wheel of her grandpa Fred Bolton’s jeep. Bolton served in Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Becky Ginos.

 The Korean War started in 1950 and ended July 27, 1953, said Mortensen. “There were 33,739 deaths. Over a million casualties.That’s on both sides. There were 2.5 million civilians killed including many children.”

The war turned into a stalemate and an armistice was signed. “The Korean War still technically continues,” Mortensen said. “It’s referred to as the forgotten war but if you ask the veterans who fought there they would say it’s the forgotten victory because their sacrifices saved South Korea from becoming a communist nation.”

To the 150 Korean veterans on the wall and those who are here today, said Mortensen, “We remember you and honor your service to our nation.”λ