Never forget, always learn: Southeast Wisconsin memorials keep 9/11 history alive for next generation
CBS 58 SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Friday marks 25 years since Sept. 11. It will be 25 years since the United States was attacked by terrorists, changing our country forever. In southeast Wisconsin, there are two hometown memorials to make sure we never forget.
In the heart of downtown Kewaskum is the 9/11 memorial and education center.
9/11 memorial in Kewaskum
"This is a space designed to help remember the victims of 9/11, both the ones on that day, as well as the victims that have happened afterwards," said Mark Bazata, president of the 9/11 Memorial and Education Center in Kewaskum.
It is meticulously manicured, beautifully landscaped, and powerful to experience.
"It is a place of reflection. It is a place of awe," said Bazata. "It really is a great space for me to continue to remember the people who have sacrificed their lives."
On Sept. 11, 2001, 2,977 lives were lost. Over 2,600 in the World Trade Center, 246 in the four airplanes, and 125 in the Pentagon.
9/11 memorial in Kewaskum
"The mission of the 9/11 memorial is making sure we educate future generations on what happened during 9/11," said Bazata.
9/11 memorial in Kewaskum
Not only future generations but there is a generation alive right now that may not know much about 9/11. If you're under the age of 30, you probably don't remember it.
"It's really important that we remember those things because if we forget it, we'll never be able to learn from what happened in the past," Bazata said.
The plaques, the facts, the sculptures, the symbolism, the 2,200-pound steel beam from the north tower pointing southeast toward New York City, with a pentagon base -- all to make sure the older generations never forget, and the younger ones always learn.
"Being able to see the names, being able to see the symbolic pieces, being able to see the steel; it's going to stick with the kids a lot more than reading it in a book," said Bazata.
"It was clear when 9/11 happened that there was going to be a military response," said Brian Winski, president of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center.
About 45 miles southeast of Kewaskum is the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. A lot of the focus there is on the lives lost in the wake of 9/11.
Milwaukee County War Memorial Center
"About 5,900 service members lost their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan or other contingency areas, and about 130 of those were from Wisconsin," said Winski.
Including seven marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment -- a United States Marine Corps reserve unit from Milwaukee -- memorialized with a monument in Veterans Courtyard.
Milwaukee County War Memorial Center
Milwaukee County War Memorial Center
"A lot of what we did in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other contingency areas, the main, overarching purpose of that was to make sure that those types of capabilities for our adversaries don't' develop again and result in attacks in our homeland," Winski said.
Both memorial sites will have ceremonies on Sept. 11, remembering and reflecting on the day 25 years later.
You may be wondering why the 9/11 memorial is in Kewaskum; Andrea Haberman grew up in the area and died in the north tower. Her dad, Gordon, was a driving force to bring the memorial to Kewaskum for his daughter and the thousands of others that will never be forgotten.
