The Texas Panhandle War Memorial unveiled and dedicated their Iraq and Afghanistan monoliths
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Texas Panhandle War Memorial was the site of a special service and dedication Saturday. They unveiled and dedicated their new Iraq and Afghanistan monoliths.
The monoliths and the service was dedicated to the 26 soldiers that have lost their lives during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
During the emotional ceremony, officials read the names of each fallen soldier listed on the monoliths.
The names engraved will not be in alphabetical order, but instead in the order of when they were killed in the line of duty. The history was left blank and will be engraved into the monoliths when the wars are officially over.
The event is a way to remember those soldiers who sacrificed everything for our freedom.
"It's an honor for us to have that opportunity to pay a tribute to the individual and the family. I think it brings some closure even though the healing continues, it brings some kind of closure that their sons are not taken for granted, that people know who gave their life for this country," said Pete Garcia, Texas Panhandle War Memorial.
Officials say that 25 of the 26 families whose lost loved ones are memorialized on the monoliths attended Saturday's event. Those who did attend took photos of the monoliths, and reached out and touched the names engraved into the monuments.