Three valley veterans reflect on what Veterans Day means to them

Just 30 years after Teton County was founded, Denzil Burnside’s life in Teton Valley began. With 80 years as a local, Burnside has a strong connection to the land and its community, but he feels especially honored when Veterans Day rolls around.Programs put on by schools warm his heart, surprising him every year with their ability to memorize so much material to honor those who have served.Burnside was enlisted in 1967 in the Army National Guard, serving for three years and just over a year in Vietnam. Programs just for veterans remind him of how special the United States is to him. “It took people like me and everybody else and, [we] give up, die, for our country ... and it means so much,” he said. “People that serve in the country in the United States, they need to be proud of what they’ve done.”Veteran Michael Coyle, a 50-year local, also remembers his service, despite the confusion of serving in the Army during the Vietnam War.

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