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  • 11.13.2006

     

    Banners salute fallen Nebraskans

    Published SaturdayNovember 11, 2006
    Banners salute fallen Nebraskans
    BY TIM ELFRINK

    WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
    Seventeen Nebraska families touched by tragedy will come together for the first time today beneath 17 banners honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones.


    Banners honoring Nebraskans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan hang on light poles in Heartland of America Park in Omaha. Nicole and Ted Wheeler walk their dog Thursday past a pair of the banners.
    On Veterans Day, the families of Nebraskans killed fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are gathering at Heartland of America Park to honor their memories and take another small step in a healing process that never ends.
    "It's going to be pretty special, because you know everyone there is feeling the same way. Everyone else still has that pit in their stomach that doesn't ever seem to go away," said Rita Zoucha, a Clarks, Neb., native whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Brent Zoucha, died in Iraq in June.
    Each 3-by-9-foot banner, hanging from light poles around the park's lake, features a color photo of the service member it honors, plus name, age, rank and branch of service. The banners include a short tribute written by each family.
    The project's only goal is to make sure that those who have died fighting for their country are remembered.
    "A lot of families fear more than anything that their family members will be forgotten. We're a totally nonpartisan group, and we've taken political views aside and just tried to ensure they will not be forgotten," said Breanna Peterson, an Omahan who organized the tribute.
    Peterson brought the idea home from a conference in Washington, D.C., where she met directors of the American Heroes Tribute, which organizes similar banner projects in California.
    "This project is about celebrating lives. When people see these banners, they're struck because they're looking at a real face and not just a name flashed on and off the TV or a quick blurb in the newspaper," said Robert Pfeiler, the nonprofit organization's co-founder.
    When Peterson returned to Nebraska, she contacted as many families of Nebraska service members who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan as she could find.
    Although not every Nebraska family that has lost a loved one responded, the majority Peterson was able to contact were immediately interested, she said.
    "For the families, this is a great chance to heal. One woman hadn't even looked at a picture of her son for two years, and when she had to start finding pictures for our banner, it all resurfaced for her," she said.
    For family members, many of whom have been swamped by offers to attend memorials and rallies, the nonpolitical, personal message of the banners was appealing.
    "We've had a lot of dedications and ceremonies since my husband died, and they all were great. But I loved that this is not politically motivated, it's just dealing with the families and remembering our fallen heroes," said April Kielion, whose husband, Marine Cpl. Shane Kielion, died in Iraq in 2004.
    Peterson raised $19,000 from corporate and private donors. The banners were hung this week. They'll remain up until Nov. 22, and Peterson plans to take them to other cities around the state.
    Today's ceremony, which is to feature speeches by April Kielion and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, will be an emotional experience, family members said.
    "It's going to be very, very hard, but I think it's an awesome thing to do," Zoucha said. "This shows that they aren't forgotten. And everyone can see these guys died for our freedom."





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