Memorial Recognizing Troops Killed Since 9/11 To Open In Menifee

MENIFEE, CA — A mobile memorial that recognizes the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who died while deployed to fight the War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001, will be on display Tuesday at the Menifee satellite campus of Mt. San Jacinto College.

An opening reception for the "Remembering Our Fallen" exhibit was slated for 11 a.m. at Building 800, 28237 La Piedra Road. The memorial will remain there until the close of business Friday.

"Unlike brick-and-mortar memorials, this traveling memorial is designed to visit locations throughout the state and includes both military and personal photos," according to a campus statement. "Its legacy will be honoring these men and women by remembering and speaking their names and helping to lessen the grief of their families."

The memorial is composed of multiple collapsible walls that are covered with photos. It is one of 15 state-specific mobile memorials. California's is the largest, according to the Omaha-based nonprofit Patriotic Productions, whose founders, Bill and Evonne Williams, pieced it together in 2015.

Nearly 750 military personnel from California -- active-duty and reserve -- have died in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Williams were inspired to create their first "Remembering Our Fallen" memorial for Nebraska in 2010 after hearing stories of family members of military personnel killed in action expressing fear that their loved ones' sacrifices would be forgotten.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock