Welcome to Stories of Heroes on Michigan Traveling Memorial
Our Why
This site tells the stories of our Michigan heroes since 1990 who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we experience and often take for granted every day. It puts a face and story to the names engraved on the traveling memorial and honors not only combat killed but accidental deaths and suicides. It is our sacred duty to ensure that the names of our fallen and their memory are not lost to history. These fallen were among the truest Americans we will ever know, they died defending freedom for all, not for a select few. Whether they died on the battlefield, in training accidents, fighting the demons they came home with or other ways – we owe them all a debt of gratitude and we owe it to them to remember their stories. By sharing their stories, their memories are kept alive and others are given a glimpse of their lives which were given up in support of the United States of America.
What affects one of our service members affects us all, and the cost of war is not only counted in terms of lives lost, but also in the hearts of all they left behind who bear the burden of going on without them. They live with the loss of their loved one every day. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our Gold Star families. You bear the greatest burden of your loved one's sacrifice, and we can never thank you enough. I am humbled by your sacrifice, inspired by your resilience, and grateful for your continued and dedicated support of our military. These are your heroes' stories.