Our Foundation Volunteers
Whether they’re staffing events, or quietly handling the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep things running, our volunteers bring a genuine passion for our mission. Their commitment inspires those around them and strengthens the connections between our organization and the people we serve. Simply put, we could not do what we do without them, and we are deeply grateful for everything they contribute.
Volunteer Bios
Karen and Eric Hansen
Karen and Eric Hansen started volunteering for the Jerry Behrens Foundation’s Bagpipes for Christmas and Beartrap festival concerts in 2019, and have enjoyed every minute of it. They are looking forward to continue their volunteering efforts with the Wyoming for Hero’s foundation dedicated to Jerry Behrens. When they are not volunteering, you can find them biking, hiking and cross country skiing on Casper Mountain. They also love going to concerts and festivals. Always on the agenda is traveling, visiting family and friends, and getting out there to explore new and exciting places. At the end of the day , when it’s time to kickback and relax, they love watching a good movie or documentary
Lander Pipe Band
The Lander Pipe Band is a traditional Scottish pipe and drum band serving the Lander community since 2001. We perform at local events, parades, and ceremonies while honoring the music and heritage of pipe band culture.
The band’s tartan, Ancient Johnston, was chosen in honor of one of the band’s founding families, the Bobby Johnston family.
Fred Rawling
Fred Rawling grew up in Southern California and moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 2022 with my wife and our two sons. Music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember, with the guitar being my first instrument. In the 1990s, I began playing drums as a snare drummer with the Long Beach Junior Concert Band. That experience sparked a passion for syncopated drumming and eventually led me to start my own syncopated drum corps, the Brotherhood of United Drummers, in the early 2000s. I later became a snare drummer with the Last Generation of Syncopated Drummers, where I performed until the group retired in 2011. Those years of performing, teaching, and being part of drum corps communities gave me a lifelong appreciation for musicianship, teamwork, discipline, and the energy that comes from performing together. Scouting has also been a major part of my life. I spent 25 years as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts in Southern California, where I had the opportunity to work with young people, families, and fellow volunteers. After moving to Wyoming, I continued my commitment to Scouting and now serve as the Thunder Basin District Executive for the Adventure West Council. Today, I enjoy bringing together my passions for music, Scouting, leadership, and community service. Both music and Scouting have taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline, mentorship, and giving back—values that continue to shape the work I do today.
Collin Jensen
Collin Gardner Jensen is a bagpiper in the Wyoming For Heroes Casper Pipes and Drums, and has been playing pipes since 2009. He works as a geologist for the Wyoming State Geological Survey out of Laramie, specializing in economic geology, igneous rocks, geologic hazards, and fossils. Born and raised in Utah, Collin received a BS and MS in Geology from Brigham Young University and worked in the mineral exploration industry. His love of the great outdoors led him to his career in Wyoming. Collin has had many opportunities to play the pipes in honor of our veteran and those who gave their lives for this country, and is honored to be a part of Wyoming For Heroes.
Paul Marquard
Paul Marquard started learning the practice chanter in the fall of 1998 and progressed slowly until finally purchasing his first set of bagpipes in the summer of 2000. He has been honored to pipe many events and ceremonies since that time. His greatest moments include piping at a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Casper College and performing at the International Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs, where he joined more than 400 pipers and drummers from around the world.
Eric Willcox
Eric Willcox was born and raised in Rawlins, Wyoming, an unlikely place to learn the bagpipes. After casually expressing an interest in the bagpipes to a friend, the friend mentioned that his parents used to play the bagpipes. Following a very informal lesson by his friend’s parents, Eric was told to come back in a year (figuring he would not stay with it). To their astonishment, after nine months Eric returned requesting further instruction. He began formal lessons and in 1997, after flipping burgers at McDonalds, he bought his first set of bagpipes. Some of Eric’s favorite memories include solo-competitions in Jackson Hole and Estes Park and band competitions in Colorado, Utah, and Las Vegas. Eric plays with the Casper Pipe Band and the Lander Pipe Band. He is a Grade 3 piper in the Western United States Pipe Band Association. Catch him in green this Saint Patrick’s Day!