Tester statement on Fallen Soldier Memorial dedication at UM

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement in advance of the dedication of the Fallen Solder Memorial at the University of Montana. Tester was an early backer of the memorial, which honors Montana troops who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:

“The Fallen Soldier Memorial pays tribute to Montanans who selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I hope all who pass this monument will take a moment to reflect on the bravery of their fellow Montanans and the freedoms we all cherish. We must never forget these heroes or their families, and this memorial will honor them forever.”

The Fallen Soldier Memorial is a joint project between UM and Grateful Nation Montana, a non-profit organization established to support college educations for the children of soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The memorial’s unveiling, set for Friday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m., will occur along Memorial Row on the northeast side of UM’s campus. It features five bronze statues and the names of the 40 Montana service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tester is a tireless advocate for veterans and American troops. In September, he called for the removal of U.S. forces from Iraq by year’s end, saying that the troops ‘never faltered’ and provided security and democracy to a nation that had never known it.

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