Julia Coty
Osama bin Laden. Afghanistan. Al Qaeda. 9/11.
Grief. Loss. Agony. Sacrifice.
This is what the families, loved ones and friends felt when they lost their heroes during the Global War on Terror.
LPC hosted a special exhibit opening ceremony on April 9 for the National “Remembering Our Fallen” memorial, a photographic tribute to honor fallen service members in the War on Terror.
“Americans are asking: Who attacked our country?” said President George W. Bush in 2001.
In the same September 2001 speech, Bush announced the military campaign, War on Terror, created to combat any future threats or terror against the U.S.
This campaign was triggered by the 9/11 attacks, the war in Iraq, and the Afghanistan war.
Since the launch of this campaign, millions of servicemen and women have been deployed, and some are still actively serving.
This five-day memorial provides an opportunity to reminisce and celebrate the duties and personal experiences of the fallen service members.
This will be the only visit in the Bay Area available until April 14.
Created in November of 2010, the traveling memorial continues to present photos of those who died while deployed in the War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001.
This memorial consists of 30 Tribute Towers, each having three banners with dozens of profiles of those who died.
Each tower is 10 feet high and 5 feet wide to showcase the banners and photos.
The opening ceremony, hosted by LPC’s Veterans First Program, included the Honor Guard presenting the flags, singing of the national anthem, guest speakers and a dedicated moment of silence to honor the fallen service members.
One of the guest speakers was Gold Star Mom’s Leanna Graves, whose son died during the War on Terror.
She conveyed how important this memorial was not only to herself and her family, but to other families who have also suffered.
Graves encouraged viewers to look at the faces on the Tribute Towers and write down the name of at least one veteran. With this name, she told them to go home and research that person, to remember and honor that veteran.
With students browsing the photos, veterans, servicemen and veteran resources were available to answer questions or speak of past experiences.
“This is the price of freedom. They gave every ounce of their devotion,” said Mathew Boggs, Northern California’s State Coordinator of the Warriors’ Watch.
Photos by Julia Coty