By Kimberlee Trower | Cedar Valley Water Conservancy
Veterans Day has always been a time to reflect on the men and women who have served our country, the sacrifices they have made, and the families who have supported them along the way.
For me, this day carries a personal meaning. I have served in the Utah Army National Guard for over 15 years and counting, and throughout those years, I have had the privilege of serving alongside some incredible individuals who have taught me the importance of leadership, commitment, and looking out for one another.
One of the things I have come to appreciate most about the military is the family you build along the way. The Army has a way of bringing together people from different backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life, and turning them into a team. Over time, those teammates become much more than coworkers. They become brothers and sisters. People you trust, people you depend on, and people you know will stand beside you when things get difficult.
Military service is not always about the big moments. More often, it is about showing up, doing your part, and taking care of the people to your left and to your right. It is about understanding that the work you do matters, even when it goes unnoticed, and recognizing that no mission is accomplished by one person alone.
I have found that many of those same principles carry over into my civilian career at Cedar Valley Water Conservancy.
While the responsibilities are very different, the underlying purpose is similar: serving something larger than yourself.
What I did not necessarily expect was to find another team that feels so much like family.
At Cedar Valley Water Conservancy, I have the opportunity to work alongside people who genuinely care about what they do and, just as importantly, care about one another. Each person brings different skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table, but we share a commitment to the community we serve. We take pride in our work, support one another through challenges, and understand that our individual efforts contribute to something much bigger.
There is something special about working with people who care just as much about the person standing beside them as they do about getting the job done. It is a quality I have always valued in the Army, and one I am incredibly grateful to have found again here at the District.
Our work at Cedar Valley Water Conservancy is focused on protecting and managing one of our community’s most important resources. From conservation and education to long-term water planning and infrastructure projects, much of what we do happens behind the scenes. Yet those efforts are essential to the future of Cedar Valley and the families who call it home.
My military experience has shaped how I approach that work. It has taught me that meaningful progress requires teamwork, preparation, accountability, and people who are willing to take responsibility for the future. But perhaps more importantly, it has taught me that the strength of any organization comes from the people within it.
This Veterans Day, I am especially grateful for the Soldiers I have served alongside, the families who support them, and the veterans whose service has helped shape our communities.
I am also grateful for the opportunity to continue serving my community in a different capacity, surrounded by another team of people who believe deeply in the work they do and in taking care of one another.
Service does not always look the same, and it does not end when the uniform comes off. Sometimes it means protecting our country. Other times, it means helping protect the resources our communities will depend on for generations.
But regardless of where we serve, it is the people standing beside us who make the work meaningful.
To all who have served, thank you. Your dedication and sacrifice deserve our recognition not just on Veterans Day, but throughout the year.
Kimberlee Trower serves as Public Relations & Event Manager for Cedar Valley Water Conservancy and is a Captain in the Utah Army National Guard, where she currently is in Command.