The words “Never Forget” are often used around Veteren’s Day referring to the men and women who have served in the U.S. Military. For Concrete Industries – Nebraska City Ready Mixed Driver Rick W. and his Fiancé and Gold Star mother, Noala F. it has become an everyday mission of theirs to honor the fallen by volunteering their time to the “Remembering Our Fallen” traveling tribute to ensure those who died in the war against terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan are never forgetten.
After nearly a decade of providing free honor flights for veterans to visit the nation’s war memorials in Washington, Bill and Evonne Williams came up with the idea to create a traveling tribute to all of the fallen soldiers since 9/11. All the pieces for the traveling tribute were coming together when the group realized they were going to need a DOT license to transport the tribute towers. Noala, who became acquainted with Bill and Evonne Williams while speaking at a veteran’s event about her son who died in 2007, jumped at the opportunity to suggest Rick had a CDL. Rick gratefully accepted the opportunity to help.
The “Remembering Our Fallen” outdoor display now travels state to state to ensure the memories of these lives are never forgotten. The display consists of 27 towers with 3 panels on each tower which are double sided and feature nearly 5,000 soldiers.
The new outdoor display was unveiled at Pinnacle Bank Arena before being taken to a county fair in Minnesota. Rick then drove it to the Nebraska State Fair before it was sent off to Washington DC for a national unveiling at the National Mall. Rick then took the display to Hampton, Va., Charlotte, N.C., and Allentown, Pa. In November, Rick will help drive the truck and trailer in the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
While describing a moment at a recent stop where a visitor stopped by the tribute every day and stood speechless, Rick says that it is an honor to help with the display, noting the range of emotions you experience from the visitors and being there for them. “There are a ton of emotions involved, it puts a big smile on one person’s face and makes the next person cry,” Rick says.
“Our eternal hope is that we honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to bring comfort,” said Noala, who helps facilitate the tribute as it travels across the country. “I tell people my son is on the wall, and when you look at it, to me he remains alive. He remains a viable part of my life and other people’s lives when they see these pictures.”
To help transport the display Rick devotes all of his vacation time to the “Remembering Our Fallen” project. In total, Rick has logged 2,500 miles driving and 9,200 flying miles to move the display from one location to the next.