By Justine Wettschreck The Remembering Our Fallen traveling exhibit rolled through Slayton on Tuesday, escorted by law enforcement, fire trucks, ambulances and many Freedom Riders and bikers.
The exhibit, which features the names and faces of 5,501 service men and women (and two dogs) who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror since 9/11.
During the opening ceremonies Tuesday night, Slayton American Legion Commander Brad Pagel gave a solemn recitation of the series of events and times that took place on September 11, 2001 –hijackers boarding a plane, a flight striking the first twin tower, a plane crashing into the Pentagon.
Honored during the opening ceremonies were three people from our area who have died as a result of the events. Cheryle (Thedans) Sincock, who was working as a civilian at the Pentagon when it was struck. Cheryle was born in Currie and grew up in Avoca. First Lt. Jason Timmerman, from Tracy, who served in the Army National Guard. Trevor Gould of Fulda, who served in the US Army. Family members of all three were invited to attend the ceremony and honored as Gold Star Family.
Pagel spoke of the exhibit, the importance of remember the names of the fallen, the knowledge that freedom comes at a cost.
Other speakers included Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and retiring Minnesota State Senator Bill Weber.
Included in the attendees at the exhibit were two Gold Star mothers – Kathy Miller of Bird Island, MN and Tracy Clark of New London, MN. Both of their sons are on a panel of the Remembering Our Fallen exhibit.
Ryane Clark was 22 years old when he died in Afghanistan on October 4, 2010. The vehicle he was in was hit by an RPG.
“He liked to wear pink,” Tracy said. “I always used to tell him he didn’t have to do everything so fast, but yes, he did. He was an Eagle Scout and worked in law enforcement.”
Kyle Miller was 19 when the vehicle he was in ran over a pressure plate in Iraq on June 29, 2006. According to Kathy, his body protected others during the explosion. He received medical care and was flown back toward the nearest base.
“He bled out over Iraq,” Kathy said.
Kyle was awarded the rank of Sergeant posthumously – the youngest Sergeant in the state of Minnesota, Kathy said.
Kyle Miller’s likeness was used to create the bronze statue at the Brewster memorial. The footsteps leading to the statue are those of Ryane Clark.
As to how a mother gets through losing a son, Kathy has an answer.
“One breath at a time,” she said. “One tear at a time.”
The Remembering Our Fallen is at the soccer fields right by the Murray County Fairgrounds and is available to see 24 hours a day during the fair.
