For nearly 25 years, visitors entering the Mineral County Courthouse have been greeted by a display honoring local men and women who have served their country in uniform. 

Now, thanks to a new generation of caretakers, that tribute is being preserved and renewed for years to come. The Mineral County Military Appreciation Board began shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when longtime Mineral County resident Billye Ann "Toots" Bricker decided to create a display recognizing local military members and veterans. 

A 1959 graduate of Superior High School and proprietor of her family's Happy Hollow Ranch, Bricker was serving as Mineral County treasurer at the time. The position would later be combined with the Superintendent of Schools Office, as it remains today. 

"I can remember as I was getting ready for work and had the TV on when it showed those planes hitting those buildings," Bricker recalled. "I was just aghast."

Wanting to show support for the nation's armed forces and local service members during a difficult time in American history, Bricker began placing photographs of veterans and active-duty military personnel on a corkboard located in the courthouse foyer. 

"I can remember the corkboard already being there in the entryway on the left side of the stairs," she said. "I just started putting the pictures up and the commissioners called me over and said, 'Are you the one doing this?' and I said that I was. They said, 'Pretty much put up whatever you need and want.' They gave me full permission." 

The idea quickly caught on. 

"Pictures came in very readily," Bricker remembered. "People would mail them to me. They were all Mineral County residents, which is what we wanted and, as far as I know, that's still who is shown on the board."

Over the years, the display grew into a visual history of Mineral County's military service. Veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War shared space with younger generations entering military service. Newly enlisted service members fresh out of high school, college graduates entering ROTC programs, and newly commissioned officers all found a place on the board. 

Bricker's commitment to honoring military service was personal. Her late husband, Wayne Bricker, served in the United States Marine Corps and remained active in veterans’ organizations until declining health limited his involvement. 

"Yeah, I was very proud to do it," Bricker said.

After nearly a quarter century, however, the display began showing the effects of its location near the courthouse's front doors. Exposure to sunlight, wind, dust and temperature fluctuations caused many photographs to fade, tear and deteriorate. 

Today, what could be called Phase II of the Mineral County Military Appreciation Board is underway. Leading the renovation effort is Jamie Landis of the Mineral County Clerk and Recorder's Office. A veteran herself, Landis, has taken on the project with the support of both Bricker and the Mineral County Commissioners. 

"When I started at the Clerk & Recorder's Office last year, I noticed the military appreciation board and thought it was a great way to highlight and honor the people in our community who have served our country," Landis said. "At the same time, though, I recognized that many of the photographs were faded or torn, and the board was covered in dust." 

Interested in learning the history behind the display, Landis reached out to Bricker before moving forward. 

"I asked her if she would mind if I re-established the board," Landis said. "My plan is to gather new photographs from veterans, active-duty, National Guard, or Reserve members who live or were raised in our Mineral County community. This time, I wanted to do so in a way that the pictures could be preserved from the elements." 

Bricker gave her blessing, and the county commissioners voiced their support for the project. As part of the renovation, the display will be relocated from the courthouse foyer to a more protected location near the County Commissioners Conference Room, where it will be shielded from direct sunlight and the effects of wind and weather. Landis hopes the new version of the board will do more than display photographs.

"I would really like to have the appreciation board be more interactive, so Mineral County residents and visitors can learn more about our service members," she said.

Individuals submitting photographs are asked to include the service member's name, rank, branch of service, estimated dates of service, and the contact information of the person submitting the photograph. 

In addition, Landis is inviting veterans and service members to answer several questions that may be included with the display: What is your favorite memory of being in the military?  What duty station was your favorite and why?  What life skills from the military have been the most beneficial in your post-military life? 

Photographs can be mailed to: Jamie Landis, Clerk & Recorder's Office, P.O. Box 550, Superior, MT 59872.

Photos may also be delivered in person to the Clerk & Recorder's Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Landis noted that photographs from the original display have been preserved. 

"If anyone wants to collect the photographs that were on the old board or would like to resubmit them if they are in decent condition, I have saved them," she said.

What began as one Mineral County resident's response to a national tragedy has become a lasting tribute to generations of local men and women who answered the call to serve. Thanks to the efforts of Bricker, Landis, and countless community members, the Military Appreciation Board will continue to tell their stories and honor their service for years to come.