In the heart of Wyoming’s Wind River Valley, a unique event is taking shape this Memorial Day weekend that goes beyond honoring service and focuses on empowering veterans and their families to build stronger futures.

The Veterans Talking to Veterans (VTTV) Memorial Day Celebration, held May 23–24, 2025, at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, Wyoming, will bring veterans, their families, and community organizations together for two days of connection, education, and celebration. This free event highlights the graduation of a new group of veterans who have completed Mentor Agility’s trauma-informed coaching program. These graduates are now ready to run VTTV group coaching programs in their own communities across Wyoming, Idaho, and New Mexico.

 What is VTTV?

Veterans Talking to Veterans is a coaching program built on a simple but powerful concept: veterans are in the best position to help other veterans. Through Mentor Agility’s trauma-informed coaching program, veterans, military, and their spouses are trained to become certified coaches. This program is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). Once certified, graduates lead weekly group coaching sessions, helping fellow veterans navigate challenges like post-traumatic stress, civilian reintegration, and post-service growth. Since its launch, VTTV has expanded from Wyoming into Idaho, New Mexico and Rhode Island, creating local support networks and helping veterans get the services and resources they need.

Memorial Day Weekend Events

The VTTV Memorial Day Celebration is both a resource fair and a graduation celebration.

On Friday, May 23, the event kicks off with the VTTV Speakers Dinner at 5:00 PM, where attendees can meet the graduates, hear from program leaders, and connect with local organizations. Afterward, there will be a free screening of Dear Sirs, a moving documentary by Mark Pedri, who retraces the steps of his grandfather, a World War II prisoner of war, after discovering a box of letters and documents left behind. What makes the film so powerful is its reminder of how easily personal histories, especially those shaped by trauma, can go unspoken within families. It encourages all of us to have meaningful conversations across generations before those stories are lost.

On Saturday, May 24, the day begins with a performance by the Big Wind Singers and an opening ceremony. Governor Mark Gordon, officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and current Veterans Talking to Veterans coaches and leadership will honor the VTTV graduates. The day continues with a panel discussion titled "Navigating Change: A Conversation with VA Leadership," focusing on veteran issues in rural and tribal communities.

Throughout the day, the Veteran Resource Connection will offer the largest gathering of veteran services and programs in Wyoming. The event will feature five key zones:

•  Recreation and Adventure
•  Career Development
•  Service and Leadership
•  Health and Wellness
•  Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support

The day will wrap up with a performance of Modern Warrior Live. This live storytelling event explores the emotional journey from combat to civilian life and will conclude with a discussion with the creator, Jaymes Poling.

A National Model for Veterans’ Support

Veterans Talking to Veterans is quickly becoming a national model for supporting veterans. The program empowers veterans, military, and their spouses to help others, while healing and finding new purpose, and it is already making a difference. VTTV participants report that the program has provided a sense of belonging and new leadership opportunities while offering practical tools for post-service life.

This Memorial Day weekend, VTTV will celebrate the graduates stepping up to lead, and those veterans who are ready to take the next step toward a stronger, more connected future.

The event is free and open to all veterans and their families and community members.
For more information, visit VeteransTalkingToVeterans.com or contact Leigh-Ann Webster at [email protected].