A somber reminder Friday regarding the sacrifices made by our servicemen as the Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial was unveiled on the west lawn of the Scotts Bluff County Courthouse. The memorial pays tributes to the six soldiers, sailors and Marines from the panhandle who died while serving in the Middle East.

One of the speakers was Marine Sergeant Adrian Robles, who ironically served with and shared the name of fallen Marine Corporal Adrian Robles of Scottsbluff.

Also present was Bob Wolf, father of fallen Spcialist James Wolf of Scottsbluff. Wolf, wearing his son's dog tags on the sixth anniversary on his death, says the memorial is a fitting tribute.

The Robles family contributed memorial funds donated after Adrian's death. The five businesses along with the Robles family that contributed $17,000 to begin the design process and the marble etching for the memorial include Paul Reed Construction, Valley Bank and Trust, Platte Valley Companies, the Scottsbluff/Gering VFW Post #1681, and B & C Steel Corporation.

The memorial was designed by Lou Ann Herstead, and the four people who spearheaded the memorial effort are Don Gable, Julie Morrison, Veteran service officer John Brehm and Kathy Carney.

In addition to Robles and Wolf, the four other soldiers honored on the memorial for their sacrifice are Navy Petty officer 3rd Class David Moreno of Gering, Army Sgt Cory Mracek of Hay Springs, Army Staff Sgt Jason Fegler of Harrisburg and Specialist Val Borm of Sidney.