MARLIN, TX — A display that just opened in Marlin honors those who went to war to protect our way of life after 9-11.
The woman who brought it here has a very personal reason for wanting us to remember the sacrifice for the thousands memorialized in the exhibit.
A few years after the twin towers fell, and the Pentagon almost with it at the hands of terrorists, militants in Iraq kidnapped and killed the son of Nola Fritz and three other soldiers.
"I lost my oldest son, First Lieutenant Jacob Fritz was executed while in P.O.W. status January 20th of 2007," she explained.
Only 25, Fritz had graduated from the U.S. Military academy just a couple of years earlier.
His brother graduated from West Point about a year later.
Nola now honors her son's memory by bringing her story and that of thousands of others across America.
"It's a traveling pictorial memorial for the soldiers we've lost since the global war on terror," she said.
The memorial got a warm welcome in Marlin Sunday for its only appearance in Texas this year, with a special escort through town and to the Falls County Youth Fair building.
First responders from every corner of Falls County turned out for the parade down Marlin's Live Oak Street, from Chilton to Marlin from Rosebud to Lott, all sent representatives to appear in the parade.
It brought tears to lots of eyes here, in this town which has sent many men and women into battle, and even those from out of town. "I Just wanted to come out and give some more support, just support the community," said Joseph Castaneda, of Houston.
Remembering the Fallen travels on the generosity of Americans who view the exhibit and want to say "thank you" to the fallen and their families. "The Setup they're putting up now is well over a quarter million dollars and it's all been on donations," said Fritz.
Those donations will help Marlin school students learn the importance of 9-11 and the war on terror.
"They're gonna hear about it for the rest of their lives but I think this is kinda like a hands-on, I want them to see these photos," said Byrleen Terry, who sits on the Marlin ISD Board of Managers.
Why?
As Fritz reminds us, 9-11 happened a generation ago. "You know, we had kids graduate from high school this year who were not born when this all started," she reminded.
Which is why she's so proud Marlin became the only city in Texas and one of the few in America this year, to host the display, set up by the same first responders that ushered it into Falls County. "They said yes bring it down we want it here and it's great to see true patriots,"she said.
Patriots who gave their time, and their money, in the hope that none of us ever forget the sacrifice of thousands of young men and women, like First Lieutenant Jacob Fritz, or the grieving family members they left behind.
The exhibit will remain in Marlin at the Falls County Youth Fair Building right up until election day. It's open Monday - Friday 9 to 6 and 10 to 6 on weekends.
