Warrior Trail Virtual Tour

In 2014, with the concerted efforts of the Griffin Family and the Vigo County Parks and Recreation leadership, Griffin Bike Park was formed as a Memorial Mountain Bike Park to honor Army Sgt Dale R. Griffin, who was killed in action in the Arghandab Valley of Afghanistan on October 27th, 2009 fighting for the country he loved. 

As the Park’s Vision was created, the Stakeholders expressed a desire to Honor and Remember all Hoosier Heroes who were Casualties from the Global War on Terrorism. The Warrior Trail was initially opened on May 16, 2019 with the Ribbon Cutting done by Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, with many other dignitaries present and an outpouring of community members attending. Blake Griffin, of Brother Griffin Trail Solutions, was the designer and builder of the Warrior Trail and NIPSO was the economic supporter of this project and has funded the creation and maintenance of the trail since that time. At the opening of the trail we had 158 Hoosier Heroes with pictures posted and 45 of the Heroes only had name recognition listed on posters due to poor photo resolution. Our resources were primarily Military websites showing Indiana Casualties. 

In early 2024, leadership met and discussed the goal of doing further research to determine the accuracy of our honorary list, and to find better photos of all our Indiana Heroes. After over 100 hours of research, going through several thousand web searches and obituaries, 201 soldiers were identified. By this effort, it was determined that we had many on our original list that were not born or ever lived in the State of Indiana. We also discovered many, with this connection to Indiana, had been overlooked. With this research came the additional challenge of locating quality photos to give proper respect and honor to these valiant men and women who had served our state and country. It was also determined that each Hero's picture would be installed in steel frames and reposted in alphabetical order along the trail side of Griffin Bike Park’s Warrior Trail. 

On August 1, 2024 the final list of the 201 Hoosier Heroes was presented to Large Ink, LLC of Terre Haute for publication. Their efforts to help on this Patriotic Project has been outstanding in a variety of significant ways including, economically, with added assistance for consulting and graphic design. 

On September 29th, 2024, on Gold Star Mothers and Family Day, the Hoosier Heroes were unveiled with a great celebration of life for those who were casualties from the Global War on Terrorism. We are sure that there are others that should be honored and remembered here on this special trail, so when additional Hoosier Heroes are found, we will add them to this sacred place. 

From one of the interior walls of our State’s Indiana War Memorial & Museum, located in downtown Indianapolis, we find a quote that mirrors the heartfelt feelings for those whom we see most honorably disclosed here on this Warrior Trail today.

“We Bow in Memory’s twilight hour - to noble deeds by Patriots done - and give a pledge to bring to flower - the good they bravely have begun - led by God’s stars of right and truth in onward march to aid mankind - our flag with justice ever seeks - the world in fellowship to bind.”