CHEYENNE, Wyo. — August 11, 2025 — The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is launching a statewide tour to capture the oral histories and portraits of Wyoming's military veterans known as the Wyoming Veterans in Focus project, a collaborative initiative by Wyoming State Parks, the Wyoming State Archives, and the Wyoming Arts Council.

 

Veterans across the state are invited to participate in one- to two-hour interviews and photo sessions designed to honor and preserve their stories. Sessions will be held at the following locations:

• Cody/Powell - September 6 and 7, 2025

• Gillette - September 20 and 21, 2025

• Casper - October 4 and 5, 2025

• Cheyenne -  October 18 and 19, 2025

• Sheridan - November 1 and 2, 2025

• Evanston -   November 15 and 16, 2025

During each session, veterans will have the opportunity to engage in recorded oral history interviews with fellow veterans and sit for professional portrait sessions with photographer Barrie Lynn Bryant, a Wyoming native and veteran. Select portraits and stories will be featured in the "Wyoming Veterans in Focus" exhibition, which is set to open on Memorial Day 2026 at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. All interviews and portraits will be preserved in the Wyoming State Archives’ collection, ensuring every story becomes part of the state’s historical record.

 

Veterans interested in participating—either as interviewees or trained peer interviewers—are encouraged to complete the online participation form. The deadline has been extended and submissions will be accepted up to the day before each session, as space allows. The form is available at bit.ly/VeteransInFocusForm. 

 

This project aims to honor the voices, service, and experiences of Wyoming's military community—both past and present—and ensure their stories are preserved for future generations. 

 

Wyoming State Parks, the Wyoming State Archives, and the Wyoming Arts Council are part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), which is dedicated to providing memorable recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities and experiences to improve communities and enrich lives.

 

For additional information, please contact State Archivist Sara Davis of Wyoming State Archives. You can also learn more about SPCR at wyospcr.wyo.gov. 

 

Figure 1:  Missileer working at the Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility.

 

Contact: Sara Davis, 307-777-7826; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.