08/26/2019- Although it was full of people, Menominee’s Veterans Memorial Park was nearly silent Saturday morning as residents wandered through the Remembering Our Fallen memorial during its opening ceremony events. The tribute honors US service men and women who’ve died during the War on Terror, displaying the names and faces of 5100 people- about 70% of the total number lost. Menominee Mayor Jean Stegeman says it’s the personal photos of these individuals that really make the story of their sacrifices hit home.
“It’s terribly overwhelming when you look at- there are very few women- but, when you look at all these men and the pictures of them, especially with their children, their personal photos. It’s hard.”
It’s the first time the traveling memorial has made a stop in the UP and State Senator Ed McBroom calls it fitting for an area with a such a high per capita veteran population.
“We have communities that have sacrificed many of their best sons and daughters to war over the years and so, to be remembered and to have this tribute come up to the UP is appropriate and, I think, just continues to strengthen the patriotism that we feel here in the Upper Peninsula.”
The Remembering Our Fallen memorial will be on display in Menominee through today. The tribute then heads to the next stop on its national tour in Jacksonville, Illinois.