HELENA – A pair of Helena veterans were honored Wednesday at a ceremony held by U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte.
Steve Garrison of Helena and Dan LaFromboise of Wolf Creek were awarded the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation at American Legion Post 2 in Helena. The award highlights contributions by service members to their nation and local communities.
According to the Congressional Record submission, LaFromboise served as a corporal in the Marine Corps in Korea in the late 1950s, and Garrison served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 2005.
Both men continued working in their communities in various ways after leaving the service. Garrison works with Montana Joining Community Forces, a community group with a focus on serving veterans and their families. LaFromboise worked in law enforcement and was deputy sheriff in Lewis and Clark County for several years.
Garrison said it was his time in the army, and his family, that inspired him to help those around him.
“It was injected into me at an early age by my parents and brothers, so it just continued. Serving in the military just fostered it,” Garrison said.
LaFramboise said he is always willing to step up and help when the community is in need.
“People came to me and asked me ‘can you help us out there? Can you do this for us?’” LaFromboise said. “And it just went from there.”
Both men’s history of service was entered into the Congressional Record by Gianforte, and each received a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol.
-Reported by Jacob Fuhrer/MTN News
