Sandy and his famous adoptive mother, Dale Evans Rogers, shortly before he died.

Dale wrote a book honoring him in 1967, "Salute to Sandy".

Dale's dress was probably dark green with pale green trim. It was available from the Sears & Roebuck catalog in 1965.

"King of the Cowboys" Roy Rogers and "Queen of the West" Dale Evans went through the experience of losing their children three times. They lost Robin, their only child together, their adopted daughter Debbie, and then their adopted son, Sandy. Dale wrote a book each time, honoring each child: "Salute to Sandy", "Dearest Debbie", and "Angel Unaware".

Roy always had a big heart for children with disabilities, and Dale's description of how he met little five-year-old Sandy is worth the price of the whole book. Sandy had a lot of physical problems stemming from malnutrition, rickets, abuse and other reasons. But when Roy visited the children's home, apparently this weak, sickly little boy gave a big smile and said to him, "Howdy, Partner!" Roy was a goner! He knew that was the kid he wanted to adopt.

The story is interspersed with the story of the Rogers visiting Viet Nam to do a show there. One part will tell you a bit of Sandy's past, his desire to be a soldier, and the other will tell you what Dale was thinking or doing during that time period.

Sandy had a few physical, as well as developmental handicaps and learning disabilities, lingering from his pre-Rogers life, but he managed to live a fairly normal life. He wasn't the best student and really wanted to be a soldier. The Rogers agreed to sign the papers, figuring he would never be able to get in the Army if the Army knew his history. Sandy's desire to be in the Army was so strong that he just omitted certain things on his application, and he managed to get himself in! How that happened is a story in itself. He worked very hard but was not chosen to go to Viet Nam - it was felt his reflexes were too slow to respond in that type of environment.

However, it was at a party for a promotion that he had received -- the combination of drinks he had at the "wetting down" party -- that did him in from asphyxiation with his own vomit.

Sandy lived longer than Robin (who only lived a few years) and Debbie (who lived to early adolescence.)

As always, Dale Evans kept her faith in God for what was now the third time that she and Roy had to bury a child.

Although Dale herself is now gone, her writings stay with us -- and believe me, when Dale Evans talks about trusting God in hard times, I listen.

The singing and cinematic superstars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, were devoted Christians. Below is a prayer written by Roy for members of his Roy Rogers Riders Club. He asked that the prayer be said at the beginning of every meeting:

"Lord, I reckon I'm not much just by myself,
I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.
But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high,
Help me ride it straight the whole way through.

And when in the falling dusk I get that final call, I do not care how many flowers they send,
Above all else, the happiest trail would be
For You to say to me, "Let's ride, My Friend."
Amen"

Roy Rogers' riders club also had rules for Roy's young fans to live by.

Even Roy Rogers' horse, TRIGGER, was famous for over 30 years!