Rock Creek Hollow

We had a great time at Rock Creek Hollow for the week we were there. This flag pole is near the entrance to the memorial section of the Hollow. This brother and his two boys are related to the young man whose eagle project this was about 10 years ago. George had received permission to erect a flag pole Rock Creek Hollow. All the plans were in place. While serving a sister in his ward, helping with lawn care, he jumped on his motor cycle to go get trimming line. He was hit by a semi truck and killed. His brother, who is the dad in these two pictures, was on his mission when this happened. George's priesthood quorum went to the bishop after the funeral and asked if they could complete his project for the family. Permission was granted and all 16 of them sat in on the two merit badge classes he needed to receive his eagle award, as well as erect the flag pole for his project.

George's brother brought his two boys here the last night while we were at RCH. We asked the boys if they would like to help us retire the flag for the day. This was a wonderful moment to have George's brother and nephews here at his eagle project to participate in retiring the flag.

Every day the we had the raising of the flag and the retiring of the flag. We would ask a group who was there camping if they had any scouts who would like to participate with us. We would tell them about the history of the flag pole and the great service that George's priesthood quorum did in memory of their fallen member. We had many great experiences here.

On Sunday while at RCH the missionaries take turns going to church in Lander. One set will go in the morning while the other goes in the afternoon. There are two missionary couples at RCH all summer long. The Martin's Cove couples and the Willie Site couples. We all are assign one week during the summer. The Sunday we were at RCH the Wyoming Riverton YSA Branch brought Sacrament meeting to us. What an awesome experience.

Brother & Sister Gard were the guest speakers. Brother Gard was in the stake presidency of the Riverton Stake when alot of the eagle project were completed here at RCH. They shared some of their experience when the 2nd Rescue was taking place. (The 2nd rescue is when the Riverton Stake did all the temple work for the Willie & Martin handcart saints.)

Doug had the opportunity several times to do the "Pony express" for the groups who trekked into RCH. He would share a short history of the Pony express and then he would deliver the mail to them. Letters from home that the trek leader had brought with them unbeknown to the youth.

The only horse available for the pony express was Doug's bike he named "Cody" after a pony express rider, wild Bill Cody.

We spent the week with Elder and Sister Siler who are from Riverton Utah. We have forged a eternal friendship. We had great fun with them and love them tonz.

We had many opportunities to share pioneer stories about the handcart pioneers who were buried in the common grave at RCH.