Honor. Educate. Never forget: D-Day’s lessons forever echo from Grafton

 

By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE
Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal
[email protected]

A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held in Grafton on Saturday, June 9, 2026. The date chosen for this was significant, as it was 82 years to the day from the historically transformative day now known across the world as D-Day, the day Allied Forces invaded German-occupied France.

The National Memorial of Military Ascent (NMMA) was officially dedicated as part of a ceremony that brought together veterans, military families, elected officials and other leaders from all levels, donors and supporters, as well as community members.

 

 

Set against the beautiful limestone bluffs that line the Mississippi River as it makes its way through Grafton, the NMMA Memorial centerpiece is comprised of 12 bronze life-size statues depicting the U. S. Army Rangers’ scaling of the Pointe Du Hoc cliffs on Omaha Beach as part of the first D-Day landings.

The statues were created by Carolina Bronze Foundry in North Carolina. Their installation and display provides an indelible viewpoint intended to replicate the cliffs of Normandy (or Normandie as the French spelling), France from that unforgettable day in history.

An estimated 1,000 attendees had gathered at the Grafton Visitor Center to commemorate honor sacrifices made by service members that had been made on D-Day back on June 6, 1944, and the many times ever since, in a most unique and extraordinary way. Most attendees took advantage of the free shuttle service being provided from Raging Rivers Water Park to the site of the ceremony.

The June 6, 2026, event opened with the posting of colors by the Leech Lake Ojibwe Honor Guard, American Legion Post 648, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 805. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is a federally recognized, sovereign Native American nation and its Honor Guard is part of the American Legion Post 2001 in Bena, Minn.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (U.S. Army Retired) and NMMA Chaplain Warren Gohl then provided an invocation that was followed by a community rendition of the National Anthem.

Colonel (Ret.) Michael R. Morrow, mayor of Grafton and NMMA commissioner, welcomed attendees and reflected on the years of planning and collaboration that led to this moment and brought the vision of this important project into reality.

“We gathered today to honor our veterans and dedicate this monument to the indomitable spirit of the American people and all those who stepped forward to defend our nation and the freedoms we enjoy,” Morrow said.

Throughout his remarks, Morrow shared the heroic story of the U.S. Army Rangers who scaled the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Their courage served as the inspiration for the memorial’s centerpiece—twelve life-sized bronze Rangers ascending a limestone bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

The ceremony also highlighted stories of courage and sacrifice from World War II, including the experiences of French civilians who survived the Nazi occupation and the heroism of Private David Kerr, a combat medic who landed in the first wave on Omaha Beach and later earned the Silver Star for his gallantry under fire.

 

 

The keynote speaker was Lieutenant General Jered P. Helwig, deputy commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) at Scott Air Force Base. He shared reflections on military service, leadership, sacrifice, and the importance of preserving the stories of those who defended freedom.

Several individuals and organizations were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the project. Special recognition was given to Jayne and John Simmons and the Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm for their transformational support of $2.5 million as noted by Mayor Morrow.

Further special recognition was given as well as to Ben Allen, Carolina Bronze Foundry, Henderson Associates Architects, Tarlton Corporation, Bollinger Services, Sheppard, Morgan & Schwaab Engineers, and to the many donors, founding members, volunteers, and community partners whose generosity thus far has made the Memorial possible.

 

 

The ceremony also acknowledged supporters watching via livestream from Normandy, France, including NMMA Commissioner Christine Robertsen and her friend Jon Pierre, whose personal experiences during World War II served as powerful reminders of why future generations must never forget the cost of freedom.

Following the dedication remarks, attendees observed a traditional 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and the retirement of the colors. Williams Family White Dove Release was also on hand to provide a ceremonial release in tribute. The ceremony concluded with the official ribbon cutting, opening the National Memorial of Military Ascent to the public for the first time.

 

 

Musical accompaniment throughout the event was provided by the Mike Buerk Orchestra.

Plans for the site’s next phases were also shared. The City of Grafton plans to honor the service of our country’s veterans with the building of a immersive memorial complex on the site where the Ascent has been installed.

The completed complex will include a museum as well as a veterans’ memorial plaza and a World War II monument. The museum will feature educational exhibits and artifacts, including a rare Vietnam-era SEAL Team Assault Boat built in Grafton in 1968 and donated by John and Donna Jadwinski.

A guiding principle of “Honor, Educate, Never Forget” was echoed throughout the June 6 ceremony and continues to drive the Memorial’s mission. The National Memorial of Military Ascent has been established to honor veterans, educate future generations, and preserve the stories of those who have served.

To learn more about the NMMA and its continued mission advancement, visit online at GraftonMemorial.org or contact Brittney Weber at [email protected], (618) 535-8475.

 

Additional photos by Melissa Crockett Meske/Illinois Business Journal: