McCollum remembered in service Saturday

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — An estimated 400 attended Saturday’s service for fallen Marine Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, including Governor Mark Gordon, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, and dozens of fellow Marines.

McCollum, 20, a Bondurant native, was killed by a suicide bomber when he was manning a checkpoint during evacuation efforts in Afghanistan on Aug. 26.

“Wyoming hurts today. We lost a good one,” Gov. Gordon said in his address.

The service was organized by the McCollum family and hosted at the Gill Ranch of South Park Loop Road.

Rylee’s father, Jim, choked up as he recalled the day his son enlisted on his 18th birthday. “I was proud of him,” a tearing-eyed Jim McCollum said.

Senator Barrasso commented, “Rylee McCollum’s life demonstrated the best of our nation.”