Remembering our warriors of the 21st Century.

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is open to the public 24 hours a day through Sunday, July 11, until 3 p.m.

Remembering our warriors of the 21st Century.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — In addition to the Traveling Vietnam Wall on exhibit at the Oceana County Fairgrounds is the “Remembering Our Fallen” display that honors the warriors of the 21st Century.

The “Remembering Our Fallen” exhibit is part of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, and it is about 75 percent complete, said Gina Mead, community relations chair for the Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs, who led the effort to bring the exhibit to Oceana County.

While viewing the exhibit, you may notice that Oceana County’s heroes are not on display. That is because it is “a work in progress,” said Mead. Families of each fallen soldier must be notified to obtain permission to feature them in the display as well as obtain photos and information.

Oceana County lost three soldiers to war in recent years: Todd Robbins of Pentwater, Dennis Samson of Hesperia and Brett Witteveen of Shelby.

Robbins

Army Sgt. Todd Robbins, 33, of Pentwater was killed in action in Iraq in April of 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A 1988 graduate of Hart High School, Robbins also had a degree in criminal justice from West Shore Community College. He also served for the United States Navy for four years and was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

Samson

Army Spc. Dennis Samson, Jr., 24, of Hesperia died in Taqaddum, Iraq, of injuries sustained by enemy small arms fire in July of 2006. He was a 2000 graduate of Hesperia High School.

Marine Pfc. Brett Witteveen, 20, of Shelby was killed by a roadside bomb in February of 2007 in Fallujah serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Witteveen graduated from Hart High School in 2005.

Witteveen

The exhibit began in 2017, said Mead, and more war heroes will be added to it as families are contacted.

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