The poignant “Remembering Our Fallen™” display will be in Churdan at the Paton-Churdan school next Thursday, Sept. 11, through Tuesday, Sept. 16. The display features photos and information about the 89 Iowans who have been killed in military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two programs are planned in conjunction with the display, which is being sponsored in Greene County by the Churdan public library, the P-C school, the Jefferson Rotary Club, United Bank of Iowa in Churdan and Community State Bank of Paton.
The exhibit was produced by Bellevue University of Bellevue, NE. “Remembering Our Fallen” displays have been prepared for 18 states. The displays seek to assure that the men and women who have been killed in the War on Terror never be forgotten and that their names will be remembered and spoken.
Churdan librarian Marilyn Tilley said she saw the display at a basketball game in Walnut, and Minnehan had seen it listed in in promotional material. Tilley remembers thinking, “This is so awesome we’ve got to bring it to Churdan.”
Tilley said it was seeing pictures of Air Force Capt David Wisniewski that made it seem imperative to bring the display to Churdan. Capt Wisniewski’s father Chet was principal at Paton-Churdan from 1992-95. “They were our neighbors. We knew David quite well. He was always at our house. He’s one of the people in the exhibit,” Tilley said.
The Wisniewskis moved to Moville when Chet left P-C, and David graduated from Moville high school. Capt Wisniewski was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on July 2, 2010. He was 31 years old.
Photos of Lance Cpl Ben Carman and Capt Matt Nielson, both of Jefferson, are also in the display. “They’re important to us, too,” Tilley said.
“Our connection here in Churdan is very military, very supportive of veterans,” librarian Shari Minnehan said. “We have a very active veterans group. They were very successful in getting Veterans Park started and quickly built.”
Tilley and Minnehan talked about the Veterans Day program at the school, which is a very important event to the community and the students each year. “We wanted to include the school because the kids also share our love and support for our veterans,” Tilley said. “We all think it’s important we honor those who have fought for our freedom.”
Chet Wisniewski will return to Paton-Churdan to speak at a program on the opening day of the display, next Thursday, at 9 am at the school. Students will participate in the program. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
The display will be open from 4 to 7 pm Sept. 11-16, and during school hours Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday.
There will be an evening program Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7 at the school auditorium. It will not be the same as the morning program. Capt Wisniewski, Carman (KIA April 6, 2004, in Iraq), Nielson (KIA June 29, 2011, in Iraq), SPC Shawn Muhr of Coon Rapids (KIA Jan. 29, 2011, in Afghanistan) and SPC Daniel Sesker of Ogden (KIA April 6, 2006, in Iraq) will be honored at both programs.
The evening program will be preceded by a spaghetti supper from 5 to 6:30 pm at the school. A free will donation will be accepted, with all proceeds going to the library building fund.
The display will arrive in Churdan next Wednesday at approximately 1 pm. Residents are encouraged to gather with school children along Highway 4 near Freedom Park to pay respects as the motorcade passes on its way to the school.
The librarians thanked the sponsors of the program, and in particular the Jefferson Rotary Club. A Rotary grant is covering the majority of the cost of bringing “Remembering Our Fallen” to Churdan.
