Waldron project
The first memorial project for the Old Men and Fire was memorable and a great learning experience. On May 27, 2026 six members convened in Choteau, Montana and set up their ICP at the Big Sky Motel. Most drove, but Bill Molumby and Don Will flew all the way in from California. That afternoon the OM&F were able to take possession of the long-awaited plasma cut steel sign done by Garrett Depner and his Choteau High School Ag-Ed class. The frame design specifications were discussed in an evening meeting and appropriately ocumented on a napkin.
The next day kicked off with a procurement run and quick planning meeting. Rocky Mountatin Ranger District AFMO Anthony Emacio provided some guidance and the OM&F went into a split crew action with Kurt La Rue heading the sign frame fabrication effort at the USFS district shop and Jerry Williams taking other members to support Brad McBratney (former L&C NF Fire Staff Officer) with his skid-steer and auger to prep the site near Teton Pass Ski Area. The site prep went smoothly…however, the frame fabrication was more art than science. Throughout the day the OM&F crew got to know Chuck at Old West Lumber on a first name basis; and Fire Lookout Kathryn Lindquist was a huge help even as she was preparing to pack into the backcountry. But, by the end of the day everything was ready and there was a group dinner with Norm Kamrud, a long-time mentor in the community and on the district.
Day 3 was “go-time.” With a commemoration ceremony set for 13:00 there could be no wasted effort. A big group of USFS district folks led by Engine Captain Matt Baker and the OM&F crew bolstered by Charlie Palmer met at the shop early to load the behemoth sign on a flatbed. Then a slow trek up the rough mountain road to set the sign. Brad’s skid-steer carefully lifted the sign and moved it from the road to the site, probably saving the OM&F crew some back injuries. A well-orchestrated effort with shovels, tamping bars, levels, and bags of quikrete had the sign set with time to spare for lunch.
A group of local citizens and forest staff attended the commemoration including Nancy Thornton, the author of the original 2003 Choteau Acantha newspaper article that inspired Charlie Palmer’s book. The current newspaper owners, Melody and Jeff Martinsen, were also present. Tom Boatner took on MC duties, Charlie Palmer spoke about the “Forgotten Five” of 1931, Jim Cook spoke about the Old Men and Fire and their purpose, and Rocky Mountain District Ranger Mike Munoz closed out speaking about why it is important to remember and learn from the past in order to make good risk decisions in the future.
Chad Fisher’s patient efforts at front-end coordination with Garret Depner and Anthony Emacio paid big dividends when the OM&F crew arrived. And thanks to the initial encouragement from Choteau Cemetery Sexton Ross Depner and the support of Lewis & Clark/Helena Forest Supervisor Emily Platt the process from the first inquiry in July 2025 to the day of installation in May 2026 took less than a year. Now there is one less forgotten fire.