Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance in San Bernardino

The non-profit organization Rear Area Support Foundation Inc. (RASF) and local veterans set up the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance memorial at the San Bernardino Golf Club, across from the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino where the Dec. 2 tragedy occurred. “Panel 31 of the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance was unveiled in San Bernardino a few weeks ago in a ceremony honoring the 14 killed and the 22 who were wounded,” said Richard Nichols, Jr., director and chairman. The Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance is 100 feet long and 6 feet high with two sides. Side one is a full color education timeline about the Global War on Terror from 1983 to today. The second side has the names of all the military, heroes and victims from Beirut, the Gulf War, Sept. 11, 2001, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ft. Hood, Boston, Chattanooga, Paris and now San Bernardino, totaling almost 11,000 names. "I built it for the remembrance after 9/11. I wanted to pay tribute to the fallen who paid the ultimate price to terrorists,” said Nichols. The memorial is made up of 32 panels to make it easier to travel. This is a perpetual memorial that will not close out until the Global War on Terrorism campaign has officially ended. Rear Area Support Foundation was originally formed by Dennis Stiles U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran 4th I.D. with support from Daniel Little U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran 101st Airborne, family members Richard (JR) Nichols, Jeanette Nichols and Pattie Little. Rear Area Support Foundation was incorporated in 2008 and received I.R.S. 501(c)(3) charity status February 2009 and California charity status March 2009. "We get the funds to pay for the creation, upkeep and travel for the wall from blue collar America," said Nichols. “It’s funded by the people who put five, 10 or 20 dollars in the donation bucket or at our web site.” RASF is based in Placentia Calif. were Nichols and his wife Jeanette live. He works on the wall full-time but doesn’t draw a salary. “I haven’t taken any money from the non-profit. My wife has a good job and it gives me the ability to volunteer my time to work on this tribute to the fallen,” said Nichols. According to Nichols he and his wife funded the wall themselves for the first few years. “The wall just started paying for itself last year,” he said. “We are a two person team and it takes long hours and dedication to deliver a 26 stop national tour between Memorial Day and Veterans Day,” said Nichols. Before starting the Wall Nichols was in the graphics business. Nichols together with the American Legion Riders, area veterans and the San Bernardino Golf Club began displaying the memorial on Thursday, Dec. 10 at sunset. The memorial wall was open to the public 24 hours a day until 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14. and security was present at the site. The most recent project to be launched is the Veteran to Veteran help line that aims to reduce suicides among military active duty and veterans. We will kick off 1-888-Vet 2 Vet (838-2838) November 2015. For more information or to donate to the wall go to www.WallofRememberance.org