Who knew? I didn’t [Big hat-tip to UncleGlenn!]. The military men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Middle East Conflicts have their own memorial in Marseilles, IL ~
 

On June 19th, 2004 a Granite Memorial Wall was dedicated commemorating the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in worldwide conflicts since 1979. The project was conceived by Jerry Kuczera and Tony Cutrano and built with donated material and labor and is the first of its kind, in the History of the United States, to give honor to our fallen by name while a conflict is ongoing.
 
It took 20 years to Honor our Vietnam Veterans. Almost 60 years to Honor our World War II Veterans. The names on the wall represent our fallen heroes from such diverse locations as Panama, Lebanon, the Balkans, Grenada, Somalia, Haiti, USS Cole, USS Stark, Terrorist attacks in Italy, Greece, Scotland, and the current conflicts in the Middle East.

 

The website for the memorial includes a list of all the names inscribed on the wall.
 
Marseilles is about 35 miles south-west of Chicago on the Illinois River. You might want to include a visit in your summer vacation plans.
Maybe even jump on your bike and head over to the annual fundraiser on June 15th: Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run.