Photo Courtesy of Roger Marshall Press Team
On Friday, September 26th, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall visited Fort Riley to address Gold Star Families and other crowd members during Gold Star Family weekend, as they dedicated a new Gold Star Family Memorial on base.
13,578 men and women of the 1st Infantry Division are honored on the new granite memorial. Honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.
“To those of you whose cherished loved ones are etched among the 13,578 names on this granite testament, thank you. Your quiet strength and unwavering support made it possible for them to charge into the fray, running towards the sound of the battle, defending the freedoms we hold dear.”
“Today we’re surrounded by living embodiments of it: our Gold Star families, all the active duty warriors and veterans who proudly bear the Big Red One patch.”
“You’ve all stared down the storm, emerging as heroes along those 13,578 souls whose stories echo through time.”
Since the ‘Big Red One’s’ founding in 1917, the division has led in every major battle, from WWI through modern conflicts, such as the war against terror. Today, the ‘Big Red One’ is scattered across the world, protecting the freedoms of the world.
The monument not only honors those lives lost, but also the Gold Star Families who lost cherished loved ones.
“On this Gold Star Family weekend, we pour out a measure of the boundless gratitude that you all deserve. By enshrining them here, we affirm that their noble sacrifices make every breath of freedom worth saving.”
“We hope this monument, this memorial, will serve as a reminder for all of us to live a life worthy of their life and your sacrifice.”
The day was made possible with the help of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and Senator Marshall’s Kansas Military Liaison, Tyler Mason.
