Soldier memorial to be unveiled Nov. 4
Grateful Nation Montana will unveil its Fallen Soldier Memorial at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 on the main campus of the University of Montana.
The five larger-than-life bronze statues, crafted by Montana native Rick Rowley, will honor the sacrifice of Montana soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and serve as a symbol of hope and patriotism for future generations.
“We created a memorial that will serve as a source of pride for our state, pay tribute to our Montana soldiers who have given their lives for our country, and underscore the our commitment to give the children of our fallen soldiers the tutoring, mentoring and academic tools necessary to succeed in life,” Grateful Nation Montana president David Bell said. “I hope veterans and friends from around the state will come join us.”
The unveiling will be followed by a first-ever reunion for all UM veterans who have served in any branch of the Armed services.
The next day the UM Griz Military Appreciation football game and other veteran-related events will take place, making for a weekend-long tribute to Montana’s military.
Grateful Nation Montana Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization based in Conrad that provides tutoring, mentoring and full college scholarships to the children of Montana soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Montana has lost more soldiers per capita than any other state. Only about 10 percent of U.S. soldiers currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have bachelor’s degrees and only 4 percent of all enlisted soldiers have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Bell, a 1996 UM graduate, co-founded Grateful Nation as a way to give back to fallen soldiers and their families. The organization has received bipartisan support around the country.
Grateful Nation is currently conducting a fundraising campaign to underwrite current and future scholarships and outreach.
A full description of its mission and activities, along with a photo gallery of Montana’s fallen soldiers, can be found at www.GratefulNationMontana.com.
People from the Flathead Valley interested in carpooling to the Missoula event can contact Lee Heser at 270-8267.