Karla's Kolumn: Kudos go out to those who serve

Every once in a while I like to take a moment and send kudos out to people or organizations who are deserving. This week there are many.

Let's start with perhaps the most important - Kudos to our service men and women who serve bravely each day to protect our country and our freedoms that we enjoy in the United States of America. Kudos to those who have served and sacrificed. We honor and recognize them specifically this Monday on Memorial Day, but their sacrifice should never be forgotten.

Kudos to the American Legion who will be conducting the services in Worland and Ten Sleep, and have conducted services for many years, in order that those who have died for our country will not be forgotten. Services are 11 a.m. at the Worland cemetery and 2 p.m. in Ten Sleep.

•Kudos to the Worland Middle School and Ten Sleep School who have students give back to the communities on the last day of school. The tradition is only a few years old in Worland and has long been practiced in Ten Sleep. It's a great way for students to get out of the classroom and into the communities that support them throughout the year.

•Kudos to those who are willing to serve in public office. The filing period is in full swing. All the incumbents in Washakie County are stepping up to serve again in their respective positions. There are five city council seats up in Worland but only one filing to date. Now's the time if you think you can make a difference to put your name on the ballot and serve your community.

But it's not just the local races. There are many candidates who want to make a difference on the state and national level and kudos to those candidates who are traveling across the state to meet people and find out what's on the hearts of minds of their prospective constituents.

I always thank state and national candidates for making stops in the Big Horn Basin because so often those who live and serve in Cheyenne or Washington, D.C. forget about the Big Horn Basin and us smaller communities. There is so much more to our great state than Casper, Cheyenne and Jackson and kudos to them for coming to listen to us.