BILLINGS — The Billings community honored all active and former military members this Veterans Day with the ribbon cutting of the city’s newest memorial to veterans in Dehler Park. The monument represents years of hard work by Shepherd Rick Baker and his nonprofit organization, Hoods for Heroes.

The monument is dedicated to the 49 Montana heroes who lost their lives protecting the country since the Vietnam War.

It was a ceremony Busby native Fred Charette couldn’t miss.

“When it was time to go, we stood up,” Charette said Monday at Dehler Park.

Master joined the Navy in 1954.

“I went to USS Valley Forge. And I served proudly on her ship. I was a machinist mate. I rose to the rank of machinist second class for MM2. And I served her my entire career on the battleship,” Charette said.

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Charette knows that freedom comes with a price.

“I was right at the end of the Korean War. They were keeping us on the east coast. We were guarding the back door. There were submarine mines coming from Russia at the time. So our job was to protect that area. The East Coast,” Charette said.

His sacrifice is all too familiar to many across the state. So there were over a hundred community members, veterans, and city officials marking the completion of the memorial.

“This belongs to all friends, family, battle buddies, Montanans, and all Americans,” Baker said as he addressed the crowd.

Baker and Ken Callahan, president of Hoodies for Heroes, are both veterans.

“There are people who aren’t coming home. That’s why we did it, you know, we did it,” Callahan said.

The organization turned to the community, the city, and even the state to make the memorial happen.

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“Between the volunteers, the companies that donated the money, and the companies that did the work, we raised 300 out of 400 (almost $300,000),” Callahan said.

But Callahan said there’s still work to be done.

“We’re working for a company that can program the kiosk, (it) will provide the information to the Department of Defense… They can walk up to it and click on the kiosk and they’ll have all the information. And then we’ll be able to go to all nine of our peacekeeping conflicts and they’ll light up on the screen, ” added Callahan. “Because right behind me, in the Atlas, in the World Atlas, this wire is going to pierce Afghanistan, Iraq, Grenada, all of them behind it. So the kiosk light will come on. And then when you go to the people who were killed, while you’re at work, Montana, Shepherd “You see Sergeant Major Terry Lynch from Yellowstone County burn or Mr. Irish from Duke County, they will burn, and that’s our goal.”

Billings Mayor Bill Cole and Governor Greg Gianforte even shared some special words.

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“I am proud that we have so many veterans who have served this country in uniform, and we want this place to be home to many more,” the governor said. “This could not be clearer than it is today. We stand here together this Veterans Day to marvel at the construction of this monument.”

“To all of our veterans, regardless of district, rank, years of service, occupational specialty or combat service, we appreciate what they have done and continue to do for the rest of us, and by we I don’t just mean the people here in the park today. Mayor Bill Cole said, “Your co-workers, your neighbors, I mean your city, county, state and country. “We also appreciate your families and their sacrifices,” he said.

It’s a day of camaraderie and appreciation for veterans like Charette.

“It’s a great tribute to see this monument here and all those who contributed in one way or another,” Charette said.

There will also be a Memorial Day parade in the area on Friday, May 23.