Remembering our Fallen: Traveling memorial at USI honors fallen military personnel

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Military veterans and community members gathered at the University of Southern Indiana Friday to commemorate the lives of fallen military personnel.

USI hosted the opening ceremony of the "Remembering Our Fallen" war memorial at the school's Screaming Eagles Arena. The nationally touring photo-display memorial, which got its start in November 2010, honors military who died from wounds suffered in a war zone since September 11, 2001. Indiana's traveling display is among 15 state-specific memorials and a national memorial.

The crowd was welcomed with a brief speech from USI President Ronald Rochon and a tribute video showcasing the importance of honoring those who served the country. Most of the event's spectators watched the video in stoic fashion, while others' emotions were on full display. 

"This is what we live for," Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 President Jerry Blake said. "Anything we can do to honor our fallen heroes, that's what we're here for."

The memorial wall featured 171 listed veterans with photos and small notes from their families and friends.

Friday's ceremony also included the dedication of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor memorial, which will permanently remain in the arena year around. The piece, placed between the 204 and 203 sections of the venue, symbolizes the nation's concern for Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted from their military service.

"The significance for me is this is about human beings," Rochon said. "It's about men and women who decided to serve and lost their lives. We should never forget these individuals."

Blake said Rolling Thunder members' aim is to push students to place their personal or political affiliations aside and show their appreciation for those who lost their lives serving the country.

"When you can come by and you look at that wall, you see those faces, and now it becomes personal," Blake said. "They realize we can do what we want today, right or wrong, because of the men and women who went before us to make the ultimate sacrifice."

Blake said the organization is looking forward to future collaborations with USI and other institutions in the area.

"We're here to educate, whether it be at USI, the University of Evansville or grade schools, we do a lot," he said. "That's our message to educate the public that there are still POW/MIAs missing out there."

The "Remembering Our Fallen" memorial will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 29, when the exhibit will be open between 8-10 a.m. before being moved to the next site. For more information on the memorial visit rememberingourfallen.org.

– Courier & Press