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Anderson remembers fallen Hoosiers with traveling war memorial

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) -John Kunkle was looking for an old friend. That friend is one of 207 Indiana soldiers whose photos are on display in a traveling war memorial currently at Mounds Mall.

Each soldier displayed died in the War on Terror.

“We graduated in 2001. Class of like 88 people,” Kunkle said. “I just wanted to pay my respect.”

Chad Self was looking for Kunkle’s friend, too. He’s a NJROTC member and a volunteer at the memorial.

“To see the fallen soldiers, what they did for our country, it’s a beautiful thing,” Self said.

Self said he worked at the memorial because he likes to hear the stories of courage and pride from visitors.

Stories from people like Travis Stokes, who served with the Marines from 1967 to 1969.

“It brings back a lot of memories of guys you were in with,” Stokes said. “A lot of guys gave everything they had to do this.”

Sometimes the stories come from an old classmate.

That was the case when Kunkle found the photo of his old buddy from Elkhart, Ind.

Raymond White is smiling in his picture, just like he did in the halls of Frankton High School. He was 22 years old when he was killed in action in Iraq.

“It’s important to know and respect those who make it possible for us to live the way we do,” Kunkle said.

The “Remembering Our Fallen,” memorial is at Mounds Mall until April 18. It will be on display at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Wednesday, April 20. The exhibit is free and open to the public.