Memorial to 9/11 Victims Travels the U.S.
John Holmgren, a truck driver from Shafer, Minn., passed through Aberdeen on Wednesday, on his way to San Diego, giving South Dakotans the chance to see his Rolling Memorial to the victims of 9/11.
Holmgren did not have any friends who died in the attacks, nor does he really have the means, with his trucking income, to afford the project he has undertaken. But Holmgren is determined to keep the memory of 9/11 victims alive.
From his own pocket, he paid an artist $30,000 to paint the names of the victims and several patriotic murals on his tractor-trailer.
About $9,000 has been repaid to him in donations. And he's raising more money for the memorial by selling T-shirts commemorating 9/11 victims.
Holmgren says a North Dakota family, who lost a relative on 9/11, tried to donate money to his truck, but he refused it, saying that he only wants pictures and stories from victims' families.
Holmgren's long-term goal is to have a large mural around his entire truck. But for now, his aim is to bring the truck to as many places as possible to give others the chance to see his gift to the families of 9/11 victims.
He has already gone to more than 30 states, and says some have commented that his truck reminds them of the Vietnam Wall memorial in Washington, D.C.
As far as Holmgren is aware, his truck is the only one of its kind.
Perhaps this is why he constantly gets invitations to bring his truck all over the country. His Rolling Memorial truck has brought him to music concerts, motorcycle rallies, Make A Wish Foundation events, as well as the Nebraska State Fair and the Riverboat Festival in Iowa. And he might go to Riverboat Days in Yankton next year.
Even before the artwork on the truck was completed 18 months ago, he and his wife Amy were bringing it all over the country because people wanted to see it.
Says Holmgren, "I've seen other things (to commemorate 9/11), but nothing is as inspiring as my truck."