‘They won’t be forgotten’: Nebraska’s fallen soldiers remembered on 9/11

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – 21 years ago, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, regular Americans found themselves fighting for their country overseas.

“It changed my life,” said veteran Chris Stokes. “I was out in the desert all of a sudden in a war situation.”

The War on Terror lasted 20 years and costed more than 7,000 soldiers their lives.

Lincoln Parks and Recreation hosted a remembrance ceremony Sunday morning to honor the Nebraskan soldiers killed post 9/11.

“It’s said that when a military member dies, there can be two deaths,” said Maria Nelson. “First, when they take their last breath of life, and second, when their names are no longer said.”

The names of over 60 Nebraskan soldiers that were killed in action were then read aloud.

Joyce Peck’s son, Staff Sergeant Patrick Hamburger was killed in Afghanistan when his helicopter was shot down on August 6, 2011.

“Maria and I spent four years getting this monument built, because we didn’t want them to be forgotten,” said Peck of the stone carved with the 60+ names. “Decades from now, people will be reading this monument. I’ll be long gone, but they’ll still have the names, and they won’t be forgotten.”

Peck said her son was born to be a soldier. Staff Sergeant Hamburger enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1998. He was killed in the single greatest loss of American life in the Afghan war. All 38 soldiers in the helicopter were killed.

“It’s really a comfort,” said Peck. “He made the ultimate sacrifice, and I want him to be remembered, as I want all of these soldiers to be remembered.”

They will be, as their names will always be here, etched in stone.

The Veterans Memorial Garden is open to the public, serving as a place where community members can pay their respects, and remember the sacrifices soldiers made to keep us safe.