Bigfork Montana bar honors global heroes with unique wall of recognition

MISSOULA, MT — Blink and you just might miss it.

Nestled away in a little corner of Bigfork Montana sits a bar and casino that ties together memories from around the globe.

“Whether you’re in England or Canada or Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, this goes on,” said DJ Shaw, a plaque holder.

Hundreds of plaques recognize men and women who serve their country.

“I like say I was too lazy to do the trim work on the ceiling, and so that’s kind of how it started, they’re good people, they really are, and like I say, some of them aren’t big talkers but they need something to have that kind of recognition,” said plaque holder Monte Schmit.

Who would expect to see members of the Royal Navy, Israeli Air Force, British Army, Australian special forces and more thousands of miles from home here in Montana.

Kelly’s wall of honor has grown from the original four plaques to now more than 300, but the mission and love behind the idea still holds fast in every new one put on the wall.

“My uncle James Taylor, he flew the Chinook helicopters in Vietnam and he was in MIA for years and I saw what it did to my grandmother or my family,” said Kelly Paulson, owner of Kelly’s Bar and Casino.

With her grandfather in mind, Kelly made sure every friend, family or service member would be honored.

After filling out a form with all their information, Dusty Miller takes it to his workshop where he uses a laser engraver to complete the plaques free of charge.

“Every plaque has its own story and no two stories the same,” Dusty Miller said.

As word spread about Kelly’s wall of honor, they wanted to make sure even more people received recognition, so it was expanded to everyone who also serves their community.

For example, Sea Schueler who was a postman for 35 years, who Dusty says is more than qualified to be on the wall.

“The form was given to me, I thought, yes, you’ve got to go on the wall because it actually says 35 years’ service dog bit in the ball sack. Now, that guy should have got (a) purple heart,” Miller said.

It’s not just traditional heroes.

Sgt. Reckless was a horse that served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War resupplying anti-tank rounds.

“This is the working man’s wall, that’s what I like to call it,” Shaw said.

Heroes can be found in every inch of this place. For bar patrons, it’s a reminder of the heroes in their own lives.

“Once I saw it on the wall, I welled up in tears, but then later on I got my brothers and sisters up there, so I moved down proudly,” said plaque holder Richard Egbers.

Kelly’s serves as a pitstop for the heroes of the world to show future generations the place where they will always be remembered.

“They brought their sons, their daughters and their grandfathers, whatever, just to see the plaques,” Miller said.

The walls are so packed with heroes, Kelly’s Bar needed to find other spots to showcase the plaques, now finding a cozy spot on the ceiling of the porch.

So long as there are heroes in the world, the crew at Kelly’s Bar says they will continue to make room for them.