OMAHA, NE (REUTERS).- A traveling photo exhibit of members of the military from two states who were killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars has inspired its creators to put together similar displays across the country.
Bill and Evonne Williams. of Omaha, Nebraska, formed
Patriotic Productions Inc. to create and display "Remembering Our Fallen" exhibits in other states that will feature photos and information on each service member killed.
"We need to remember their names," Evonne Williams said.
The exhibit featuring photos of war dead from Nebraska and western Iowa opened in November and has been booked in 39 communities across the state.
The Williams hope to organize and mount exhibits in five states a year. They said inspiration for the project came from reading newspaper coverage of the wars, especially stories of the families of those killed.
The couple has four sons who have served or are currently serving in the Army or Marine Corps.
The project is not the first time the Williams' rallied to recognize America's veterans. They raised about $1.2 million and organized Honor Flights to fly 1,500 World War II veterans from the Midwest to Washington, D.C., to see the World War Two Memorial in 2008 and 2009.
(Editing by Greg McCune)
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