Traveling memorial honoring those lost in Global War on Terror comes to New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — A traveling memorial honoring American servicemen and women lost in the Global War on Terror — including a Marine from Fairhaven — will be on display at the New Bedford Regional Airport Sunday through Tuesday.

Remembering Our Fallen is an emotional exhibit featuring 34 tribute towers with military and personal photos of more than 5,000 fallen soldiers lost since 9/11, according to a press release.

It includes those killed in training accidents, combat, as well as suicides stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder.

One of those pictures is of Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodriguez, a Marine from Fairhaven who was killed in action in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Dec. 11, 2013.

Lance Cpl. Rodriguez Foundation worked with city

The foundation created to remember Lance Cpl. Rodriguez worked with the city to organize the memorial’s arrival.

“Lance Cpl. Rodriguez made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “He was a local kid who served his country with courage and distinction, and his example of selflessness will long endure.”

“I’m really proud this memorial is coming to New Bedford,” said Mike Knabbe of the Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodriguez Memorial Foundation. “It travels the country over the course of the year, and we thought there would be no better place to showcase these heroes and their sacrifice than here in New Bedford.”

Mitchell and others will speak at a memorial ceremony for Lance Cpl. Rodriguez and other fallen soldiers at the exhibit on Monday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m., which is the 10th anniversary of Lance Cpl. Rodriguez’ death.

Exhibit and ceremony open to public Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

The exhibit and ceremony will be located inside the hangar at 1447 Airport Road. It is free to attend during the three-day stop in New Bedford.

The exhibit will be open to the public Sunday, Dec. 10, from noon to 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon.

New Bedford moving forward with monument

The city is also moving forward with plans to build a permanent monument in the South End to Greater New Bedford residents who served in the Global War on Terror.

Mitchell recently announced the city has selected Martha Schwartz Partners to design and construct the monument.

MSP is a world-renowned architecture and design firm with offices in New York, London and Shanghai that has won numerous awards for projects in Europe, Asia and the U.S.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Memorial honoring Global War on Terror fallen comes to New Bedford