CALDWELL — As part of one of Caldwell’s longest standing traditions, the Caldwell Night Rodeo hopes its thousands of fans who enter through its gates will pause to recognize Idaho’s 61 fallen military servicemen and servicewomen who paid the ultimate price for their freedom.
During this year’s 102nd rodeo week, CNR debuted three 6-by-8-foot display panels that recognized soldiers from Idaho who lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. Six were from Caldwell, including Pfc. Jacob H. Allcott, Sgt. Octavio Herrera, Spc. Jonathan K. Mesenbrink, Cmdr. Phillip A. Murphy-Sweet, Lt. Ronald J. Vauk and Cpl. Carrie Lee French, whom a statue is dedicated in her honor outside of the Caldwell Veterans Memorial Hall in June.
The Wall of Honor was put together through a collaboration between CNR and Terry Harrell with the Caldwell Veterans’ Council, according to a CNR press release, and comes as the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary of independence.
Harrell, who served as a lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army for 32 years, including in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, has two soldiers on the display who served in his battalion.
He reminded the community in the press release that it has taken “a tremendous amount of sacrifice” to guarantee the freedom America has had in the past 250 years.
“If we don’t keep the history alive of what it’s taken to get our independence, then it will be lost,” Harrell said.
Following its stay outside the main gates at CNR, the Wall of Honor will use its mobile installation design to travel across Idaho on a tour, bringing the stories of Idaho’s fallen soldiers to communities across the state.
“The Caldwell Night Rodeo has always been a place where this community comes together,” CNR general manager Nicole Cassity said. “This year, we wanted to make sure that also means pausing to recognize the Idahoans who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy every time we gather.”