‘Eyes of Freedom’ Fallen Warriors’ Memorial Coming To Casper
A memorial to fallen Marines and Navy Corpsman who lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom will be on display in Casper, and the traveling exhibit will be escorted into town by the Patriot Guard Riders.
The "Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial" is being hosted by the Casper College Veterans Club. The Patriot Guard Riders will be escorting the traveling memorial from Cheyenne to Casper, and an opening ceremony will be held Tuesday, April 24th at 5:00 p.m at Casper College That ceremony will feature Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, Casper College President Darren Divine, and keynote speaker Cpl. Mike Strahle, a Purple Heart combat veteran who served with the fallen honored in the memorial, according to a release from Casper College.
"The memorial display will feature eight life-sized paintings of the 23 fallen Marines and Navy Corpsman of Lima Company 3/25, along with their own boots which stand at the base of their portraits. Lima Company is a Marine reserve unit and remains one of the hardest hit units during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A life-sized bronze “Silent Battle” has been recently added to the memorial and features blank dog tags for visitors to write the names of their loved ones on. The sculpture was created “ … to bring awareness and to combat the veteran suicide epidemic that currently burdens our men and women of service,” according to The Eyes of Freedom website."
The paintings and bronze were both created by artist Anita Miller. The paintings were unveiled at the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda in 2008 and remained there for three years until Strahle worked with Miller to create the traveling memorial. “Moving from town to town and city to city, The Eyes of Freedom rallies the public around one common theme, saluting our great military, and their families who also sacrifice with their commitment,” said Strahle.
Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial
- Opening Ceremony Tuesday, April 24th, at 5:00 p.m., refreshments following
- Third floor of the Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College Campus
- On display until 10:00 p.m. on the 24th, and each day after that through Saturday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial is free and open to the public