They stood quietly as the rain fell, staring ahead at a wall of names that included their sons, brothers and grandchildren.

They clutched flowers, wreaths, umbrellas and each other. Some saluted. Others gently ran their fingers along the wall, tracing the space from one name to the next.

The rain continued, but they remained, bound together by similar loss. They came to this spot, the Sunup Ridge War Memorial on the banks of the North Platte River, to honor Wyoming soldiers who went to war and did not come home.

"It's important for everybody to understand what these people have done," said Bob Miller, whose son, Pvt. Scott Miller, died while fighting in Iraq.

On a soggy, overcast Memorial Day, Miller and more than 20 others came to lay wreaths at the wall, which lists the names of Wyoming's war dead. They paid tribute to the five men with Casper ties who've died in Iraq, along with the Cowboy State soldiers killed in past conflicts.

For each of America's wars, they placed a different wreath at the base of the memorial. As the conflicts were recalled one by one, some men gave military salutes.

As he watched, Bob Miller felt a mix of sadness and pride for his son.

"A lot of sorrow, but you are proud of what they do," he said. "No doubt."

A dismal economy has taken the focus off America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Miller worries that Americans may forget the sacrifices made by soldiers like his son.

"There are still thousands of our sons and daughters who are over there," he said. "It's still going on. It's still happening."

On a day like this, politics don't matter, at least to the families of the fallen. This day is for remembering; for honoring the soldiers who never made it back.

"It just brings it all back again," said Susi Miller, the private's mother. "It makes people realize."

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com. Read his blog at tribtown.trib.com/JoshuaWolfson/blog.

The five soldiers with Casper ties who've died in Iraq:

*Marine Sgt. Brendon Reiss, 23, (March 23, 2003);

*Army Guard Capt. Robert Lucero, 35, (Sept. 25, 2003);

*Army Cpl. Jason Corbett, 23, (Jan. 15, 2007);

*Army Pvt. Scott A. Miller, 20, (June 9, 2007); and

*Army Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, son of Russell Hicks of Casper, (May 2, 2008).

*Marine Sgt. Brendon Reiss, 23, (March 23, 2003);

*Army Guard Capt. Robert Lucero, 35, (Sept. 25, 2003);

*Army Cpl. Jason Corbett, 23, (Jan. 15, 2007);

*Army Pvt. Scott A. Miller, 20, (June 9, 2007); and

*Army Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, son of Russell Hicks of Casper, (May 2, 2008).]]->