Yvonne Hollenbeck: Silent Warriors
Silent warriors are all around us and our lives are better because of them, however, you rarely see them or know them. They are not just men in armor protecting a person or object, but are everyday citizens that invent, create, and carry out missions that benefit others, all without laurels glorifying their accomplishments. These troopers might be anyone from the writers of famous speeches, where the speaker receives the accolades, to the ladies that prepare the food and clean up the kitchen at your favorite church social. Because it takes a lot of hard work by silent warriors to organize and execute any successful event, we all owe a debt of gratitude to those behind the scenes that helped make it happen.
While skimming through news events on the internet, I happened on to a photo and article about the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, or WRCA. The article stated that it was 30 years ago this month (March) that this “wonderful thing was created.” Neither my husband nor I are members, but we did have the pleasure of attending their finals which is held each fall in Amarillo, Texas. We probably would have never attended this except for the fact that I was hired to perform some of my cowboy poetry at several functions being held in conjunction with the event. We also had no idea how big and wonderful this finals event is. Everywhere we went, whether it was milling through the huge trade shows, watching the Budweiser Clydesdales perform, or sitting in the coliseum watching some of the individual horse events, we were greeted by old friends from all over. My husband especially enjoyed not only watching the horse events, but the data presented on big screens stating the pedigrees of the horses, many with roots right here in this tri-state region, such as Frenchman’s Guy, Sun Frost, and many bloodlines that make up the papers in his own horses’ lineages.
It was soon time for one of my presentations which was hosted by a good friend and cowboy poet, Waddie Mitchell. You may or may not know of Waddie, but I can assure you that he is one of the best-known entertainers in the business. From being on the Johnny Carson Show to being instrumental in the formation and continuation of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, he has wowed audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. What I did not know and what I soon found out was that Waddie was also instrumental in the formation of the WRCA and the success of this fine organization. The article I read stated, “We owe the dream to Waddie Mitchell. In 2024, the foundation was able to help working cowboys and their families with over $800,000.00 in support through our Crisis Fund, Scholarship Fund, and Disaster Relief Funds.”
To say that we were surprised to learn that our friend, Waddie Mitchell, had been the “Silent Warrior” behind this huge and successful organization and event would be an understatement. In all of the many times we have been around Waddie, we have never heard him brag about his accomplishments or beat on his chest claiming to have helped create what is now the home court to working cowboys and cowgirls everywhere.
Waddie has just announced his retirement from the cowboy poetry circuit, as the after-effects of his days as a warrior in the Viet Nam war have taken a toll on his health, but you can bet that his days as a silent warrior to benefit others will not be retired.
