Frontier Navy Day recognized in Wyoming Published Oct. 12, 2012 By Staff Reports 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Oct. 13 will be a special time, when the bell is rung and the boatswain's pipe whistles, rendering honors to distinguished guests kicking off a ceremony steeped in history and tradition. This year the U.S. Navy will celebrate its 237th birthday. This is a special time for Navy veterans from around the state who are affectionately called "The Frontier Navy." In a recent proclamation signing ceremony Wyoming Gov. Matthew H. Mead proclaimed October 13th to be "Frontier Navy Day" across the great state of Wyoming. This year also marks the 40th Navy Birthday Ball held in Wyoming. Prior to 1972, all sailors and spouses would have to travel to Colorado to attend a Navy birthday ball. One of the former commanding officers of Cheyenne's Navy Reserve Center, Cmdr. Howard Melbolm, set out to start the tradition of holding a Wyoming Navy Birthday Ball in Cheyenne. Mrs. Melbolm remembers traveling with her husband to attend Navy balls at the historic Brown Palace in Denver and Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. "Howard felt it just wasn't right. Everyone thought that a Wyoming Navy ball was a good idea," she said. "The first one was a great turn-out with all the weekend warriors from across the state, and it grew from there." One of the traditions during the celebration is the cutting of the birthday cake by the oldest and youngest sailors present. Stan Lowe, a WWII veteran and Navy League member from Casper has attended most years and held this honor a hand full of times. "The ball was a really nice event to get all dressed up and have a lot of fun," he said, "Seeing a lot of old friends was the best part of it." The staff of the Navy Operational Support Center Cheyenne and the Navy's local Fleet Reserve Association Branch 59 teamed up to ensure the history and traditions of the Navy continue this year with the 40th Wyoming Navy Birthday Ball. While planning the 2012 Navy Ball, the NOSC staff came across an old photo in their archives of Melbolm with Wyoming's 26th Governor, Clifford P. Hansen, signing a Navy Day proclamation. The current Commanding Officer of NOSC Cheyenne, Lt. Cmdr. Chad Tidwell, said, "We are blessed today by those who had the vision and have gone before us leading the way." To commemorate four decades of Wyoming Navy Balls the team thought it would be fitting to re-create that photo over 40 years later with Hansen's grandson, Mead, and Melbolm's wife and son, retired Navy Cmdr. Frank Melbolm. "Wyoming has an astounding history of military service. Our men and women have answered the call to protect America for generations and have done so at rates unmatched by many states. It is an honor for me to recognize those who serve and to be a part of the Wyoming Navy Ball. The Ball celebrates those who went to sea for our country", said Governor Mead. "Each year since I have been in office, I have signed the Navy Day Proclamation, as did my grandfather when he served as Governor. This year the Navy recreated a ceremonial photo taken when he was Governor - that was a special moment for me. Carol and I look forward to expressing our deep gratitude to Navy men and women at the Ball."