‘Duty. Honor. Freedom. Service.’

It was in 2023 that American Legion member Mike Lee decided that veterans of the nations’ Middle East Wars needed recognition. Or remembrance.

He felt there was room for such a commemoration at the Veterans Memorial Plaza. Why not create a monument similar to the one commemorating the veterans of World War I and II, Korea, the Spanish American War and Vietnam? This memorial had been original and inspiring.

Mike went over to fellow AOL member Gary Richardson’s house and asked to use his workshop. And, yes, he would need some wood. Soon when he came out, he was holding four slabs which would tell of the Middle East Wars with commentary. They would surround a tall pillar which, on its four sides, declared, “Honor,” “Freedom,” “Duty” and “Service.”

After several years of fund raising and community support for this project, the Veterans Memorial Plaza’s Middle East Wars monument was installed Thursday, Oct. 26. It will be dedicated at the coming Memorial Day.

The inscription on the side stone which opens the site gives its purpose as follows: — The Middle East Wars began on August 30, 1990, and ended on August 30, 2021.

— Spanning more than 31 years with multiple campaigns, more than three million American service people fought this war, with 7, 057 casualties.

— We honor not only those killed in action, but those suffering physical and mental wounds resulting from these conflicts.

— We dedicate this memorial to those men and women who served with honor and did their duty, always faithful to the United States and our way of life, preserving freedom.

The wording on each of the seven sides of granite honoring the veterans is as follows (edited for space).

1. — Saudi Arabia, Syria On September 22, 2014, the United States officially intervened in the Syrian Civil War with the aim of fighting the terrorist organization ISIS. It was code named Operation Inherent Resolve....Since the war began, 618,910 people have been killed.

2. — Afghanistan War 2001 - 2001 3 — The Gulf War 1990 - 1991 (Operation) Desert Shield/Desert Storm 4. — The Liberation of Kuwait cost the lives of 298 service men and women.

5. — Operation Iraqi Freedom March 20, 2003-2011 At its conclusion, 4,418 service members gave their lives and 31,994 were wounded in action. 6. — Operation Enduring Freedom Began Oct. 7, 2001, as part of the Global War on Terror following attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. May 1, 2011, marked a turning point when U. S. Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden. At the conclusion of Operation Enduring Freedom, 2,350 service men and women had given their lives and another 20,149 suffered combat injuries.

7. — Lest We Forget On September 11, 2001, Muslim extremists attacked the United States by flying two planes into the New York World Trade Center Towers with 2,977 lives lost. A third plane went into the U. S. Pentagon Building taking 189 lives. A fourth plane headed for Washington, D. C, was taken down by passengers in Pennsylvania and 44 lives were lost.