An exhibit honoring the fallen soldiers from western Iowa and Nebraska was on display in Sidney last week at the Sidney Public Library.
Remembering Our Fallen is an memorial on loan from the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. honoring the soldiers killed in the War on Terror from these two states.
This photo exhibit was unveiled November 14, 2010 at the museum and remained on display until Dec. 31. Since that time it has been traveling throughout Nebraska and western Iowa.
The exhibit is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend and honor those fallen. Coming to the exhibit in Sidney were Harrisburg residents Rita and Eugene Snyder.
The Snyders came to see how the exhibit was set up. They wanted to be sure that these soldiers were honored properly. Their son, Jason Fegler, is one of the soldiers honored.
Fegler was a Staff Sergeant serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. in Baghdad. He was killed in action on Nov. 4, 2005. He was 24.
The Snyders were contacted about the exhibit months before it open. They were asked if Fegler could be a part of it. If so they would need photos and information regarding him.
According to Rita, there are many things you can be a part of when honoring the Fallen. She said what drew her to this was that it was something that would travel.
“Most of the things you can get involved in are centered in eastern Nebraska, because that’s where many of them are from,” said Eugene.
“Everyone will be able to see it, it wasn’t going to be centered in one place,” Rita said.
The Snyders were in attendance when the exhibit first opened at the Air and Space Museum. Eugene said it was displayed in a dark area with spotlights on each picture.
“It was very solemn,” he said.
But, because it was the unveiling, the crowds were thick. It made it difficult to stop and spend time, Eugene said.
The display in Sidney was positioned at the south east corner of the main library room. Solem, patriotic music plays quietly in the background. In one corner, a television displays images of the war and the events leading up to it.
The Snyders agreed that the lighting was bright and the display was put together nicely.
Five years does little to ease the pain of losing a loved one. Both Rita and Eugene said that attending the memorial is difficult. But, they feel like they need to be there.
“It brings back memories of that day,” Rita said, referencing the day she learned of Jason’s death.
Saturday was the last day for the display in Sidney. On Monday it opened in Scottsbluff at WNCC were it will stay until the following Monday. Then it is scheduled to move to Nebraska. The Snyders said they will be in attendance at WNCC on Monday.
“We were invited to the opening in Scottsbluff,” Rita said.
