The Naval Support Activity Crane Visitors Center in Crane, Indiana will now be recognized as the Lance Corporal Alec Terwiske Memorial Facility. Marines who got to know Terwiske say it is fitting that a “welcome center” is now named after him.
“He’s the kind of guy that would find someone sitting alone at lunch and go sit down with them, a big spirit ‘inside the wire’ we call it. ‘Outside the wire’ he was a warrior,” said Colonel Andrew Niebel, United States Marine Corps.
Terwiske, from Jasper, Indiana was killed in action on September 3rd 2012 from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
One of those who pushed for Terwiske to be honored with a building dedication was Indiana United States Senator Todd Young and after meeting Alec’s mother, he nows wears a bracelet to honor this fallen Marine.
“This bracelet is all about perspective, giving perspective on day to day challenges we might face, as opposed to real life and death sacrifices,” Young said.
Sentor Mike Braun also attended this dedication, and as a father himself, he says it was important to pay his respects to Alec’s family.
“I’ve got 4 kids, not too much older than Alec and all the time I think of the families that have their kids get into the armed services, and in some cases end up paying the ultimate sacrifice. We just can’t lose sight of that,” Braun said.
Alec’s mother, Sandy Terwiske, says this building with her son’s name across it should serve as a way to honor not only her son, but all military members.
“This is a reminder of the sacrifice that all our military makes, families that lose their sons and daughters. You know, this is a reminder to everybody,” Sandy Terwiske said.
To help make this dedication possible, Senator Young wrote a letter to the Crane facility in 2017 asking for a building to be named in Alec’s honor.
At the end of President Trump’s State of the Union address, Senator Young gave the president a bracelet with Alec’s name on it.
