"Remembering Our Fallen" Memorial on Display at College Center, South Sioux City

"Remembering Our Fallen,” an emotional war memorial, is traveling throughout Nebraska and will be coming to the College Center in South Sioux City, Neb. It is a stark reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Nebraskans killed in The War on Terror while wearing our country’s uniform in a war zone. The photo memorial includes military and personal photos of each of Nebraska’s fallen.  

Included in the memorial are fallen servicemen from Northeast Nebraska:

• Petty Officer First Class John Douangdara, U.S. Navy 
• Sgt. Joshua Ford, Army National Guard
• Sgt. Joshua Mann, U.S. Army
• Sgt. Robert Scholte, Army National Guard

The sponsors of the memorial are Wayne State College and Northeast Community College along with the South Sioux City Hy-Vee. 

“We are very appreciative of the South Sioux City Hy-Vee for co-sponsoring this event with Wayne State College and Northeast Community College”, said Judith Scherer Connealy, Director of Continuing Education and Outreach for Wayne State College. “Our joint effort made it possible to bring for the first time this important and moving exhibit to South Sioux City”.  

An opening ceremony will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. American Legion Post 307 will present the colors and brief remarks will be made by South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch. Lonnie Ford of Pender, a Gold Star father, will speak about the meaningfulness of the memorial exhibit to his family. Ford’s son, Sgt. Josh Ford, was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2006.

“Remembering Our Fallen” will be open to the public Feb. 6-18 at the College Center, 1001 College Way in South Sioux City. It can be viewed Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Fridays until 5 p.m. For a weekend viewing appointment, contact Geo Torres at 402-241-6419 or [email protected]. There is no admission charge.

This memorial and 18 other state memorials representing 60 percent of our country’s fallen since 9/11/01, have been created by Patriotic Productions, a non-profit organization headquartered in Omaha.  

“We must remember these American heroes and speak their names when we see their family members”, said Bill Williams, who with Evonne Williams created the memorial.  “While this memorial is about those who have died, it was created for the living…to help the families in their grief, while reminding the rest of us of the terrible price paid for our freedom by our current generation of military.”  

The Williams’ goal is to complete a national traveling memorial that will include all of our country’s fallen from the War on Terror. More information can be seen at: RememberingOurFallen.org or PatrioticProductions.org. Those interested in sponsoring the memorial at their location should visit the “Get Involved” page at: RememberingOurFallen.org.