Remembering Our Fallen is a photographic war memorial that honors our country’s military fallen from The War on Terror (9/11/2001 - Present).
This memorial, with 33 Tribute Towers, also includes our military who served in combat zones post-9/11, but succumbed to the invisible wounds suffered. A Tribute Tower has also been added to include our military who died in stateside or non-combat training accidents. Unlike brick and mortar memorials, Remembering Our Fallen is designed to travel and includes both military and personal photos.  Its legacy will be that these men and women will be remembered and their names will be spoken, while helping to lessen the grief of their families.
 
We cannot all pick up the sword, nor should we, but we owe our support and gratitude to those men and women who do, and to their families. Each fallen hero left behind family and friends who will never forget them, and we as Americans are here to support them. Let’s remember to say their names; let us never forget their sacrifice.

No one wants to be a Gold Star Family. The title, which is reserved for families of military personnel who have died in the line of duty, is meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging the family’s loss, grief and continued healing. A Gold Star family's greatest fear is that their Fallen will be forgotten.

The Marlin, TX Chamber of Commerce undertook the project, spearheaded by Mike McGouirk, Jay Elliott, and Byrleen Terry, of bringing the 33 Tribute Towers to Marlin by first contacting Bill Williams of Patriotic Productions. Collaborative efforts by Lions Club International, Rotary Club International and numerous other city volunteer organizations and businesses resulted in transportation of the Tribute Towers by Noala Fritz and Rick Ward, Onsite Representatives. Ms. Fritz and Mr. Ward’s massive undertaking of travelling thousands of highway miles and across numerous state lines is and was received most appreciatively by citizens throughout Falls, Bell, McLennan, Limestone, Robetson, and Miliam counties. The Onsite Representatives provided an alphabetized listing of each Fallen Hero, identifications of those military personnel who were Medal of Honor recipients, and more.

Special guest speakers at the Presentation of the 33 Tribute Towers Remembering Our Fallen were Brian Birdwell and Kyle Kacal. Brian Birdwell is Texas Senator for District 22 (since 2010). He is a survivor of the September 11, 2001 attacks in The Pentagon. Kyle Kacal Is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 12, which includes parts of Brazos and McLennan counties as well as the smaller Falls, Limestone, and Robertson counties in the east central portion of the state.

Paying honor at the presentation of Remembering Our Fallen also were Marlin City Manager The Hon. Cedric Davis, Falls County, Texas County Judge, The Honorable Jay T. Elliott, and 82nd District Judge Bryan F. Russ, Jr.

Presenting Sponsors were City of Marlin, TX, KWTX News 10, Falls County Youth Fair Association, Kyle Kacal, Brian Birdwell.
Tower Sponsors were Print Source, Tom Lewis; Autos Unlimited[ Hecate Energy, Andrew Boggs; Cen-Tex Roof Systems; Williams Feed Store; Dr. Kelly Czajkoski, DC; Citizens State Bank; Allen Samuels; First National Bank of Hughes Springs; TEXSTAR; Morgan Tindle; Edward Jones, David Lawson; Bryan Russ; Hot EDD; Marlin Rotary Club; Marlin Men’s Civic association;BancorpSouth Bank; Miss Central Texas Pageant;AKS, Marlin Lions Club, and Jay Elliott.

Gold Star Sponsors were Jack Hilliard, Pete Sessions, AppleSport Chevrolet, AppleSport Ford, The Marlin Democrat, Dairy Queen-Marlin, Petal Patch, and the Marlin Chamber of Commerce.

Marlin Lions Club volunteers were part of a collaborative effort that announced the coming of the towers, raised donations to fund their transportation, secured the police-escorted route through Uptown Marlin, assisted in tower placement in the Marlin City Park Pavilion, and provided onsite registration and tours. In the end, these extensive efforts resulted in Marlin being the only city in Texas to host the 33 Tribute Towers, Remembering Our Fallen.