Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter spoke to a large group gathered at the Idaho Fallen Heroes Memorial Wednesday morning in Boise to celebrate and commemorate the lives of those lost fighting the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of the people in the crowd were families of Idaho soldiers who died in those wars.
Speaking to the crowd, Otter asked everyone to pause and remember that day 12 years ago, and the people who made the “ultimate sacrifice” in response to it.
“The heroes that we’ve memorialized today gave everything for a grateful nation," said Otter, "a nation that cannot fully express our appreciation and admiration for their selfless devotion.”
Some people wiped away tears as they traced the names of Idaho soldiers from the memorial. The governor and First Lady Lori Otter took turns reading the names of Idahoans who died on 9/11, and in the wars that followed. They paused to pay special tribute to the four Idaho soldiers who have died in the past year: Shane G. Wilson, Thomas P. Murach, Mitchell Daehling, and Octavio Herrera.
Herrera – who's wife and family was present at the event – was killed exactly one month ago, at age 26 in Afghanistan.
Copyright 2013 Boise State Public Radio
