POW/MIA Recognation Day Convocation

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GGSW, Historic Site to host POW/MIA Recognition Day Convocation

Staff Writer The Americus Times-Recorder

AMERICUS — National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day is Sept. 17. In honor of that day, the Andersonville National Historic Site, location of the National Prisoner of War Museum, the Friends of Andersonville and Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) are hosting the 2010 National POW/MIA Convocation at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 in GSW’s Fine Arts Building. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this free event.

Jo Anne Shirley is this year’s guest speaker. Shirley’s brother, Maj. Bobby Marvin Jones, M.D., has been MIA since Nov. 28, 1972. He was a passenger of an F4D bomber that was lost from the radar 20 miles northwest of DaNang, South Vietnam. After three excavating missions in the area believed to be the crash site, no remains were recovered. Jones’ fate remains unknown.

A native of Macon, Jones graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 and from the Medical College of Georgia in 1971. After doing an internship at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas, Jones joined the Air Force in 1972.

The convocation speaker, Jo Anne Shirley, is the Georgia State Coordinator for the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and co-founder of the Georgia Committee for POW/MIAs Inc.

She won the Georgia Outstanding Citizens Award for POW/MIA Involvement in 1994 and has served on boards of and been recognized by countless other organizations focused on remembering POW/MIAs. Shirley resides in Dalton with her husband, Dr. Rudy Shirley, and has three children and five grandchildren.

This is the fifth year that the Andersonville National Historic Site and GSW have hosted this event. Governor Sonny Perdue has issued a proclamation celebrating POW/MIA Recognition Day 2010.

In connection with POW/MIA recognition day 2010, Rolling Thunder Inc. is co-sponsoring several events at Andersonville associated with “The Ride Home.” Notably, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will make a week-long stop at Andersonville from Sept. 17 through Sept. 25. The wall is a 3⁄5s replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and is nearly 300 feet in length. Volunteers are needed.

Contact the Andersonville National Historic Site at 229-924-0343 to help.

http://itemonline.com/local/x752936748/ ... s-families September 3, 2010 POW/MIA Recognition to honor veterans, families

By Mary Rainwater Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — What began as a small time of recognition to honor its World War II veterans has turned into something even more memorable for residents of The Lexington Center in Huntsville, as the assisted living community has partnered with the HEARTS Veterans Museum to provide a special event for residents and their families.

The POW/MIA Recognition will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 at The Lexington Center, and includes a time of prayer time, musical performances, guest speakers and an interaction time.

Members of the Sam Houston State University ROTC, headed up by Lt. Col. David Yebra, will serve as special guests at the event — leading the pledge, speaking to attendees and participating in the after-program.

“I really hope to see the two generations of military service get to know each other during that interaction time,” Lexington Center Activity Director Kasie Kroll said. “It will be a chance for our resident veterans to see how things have changed and progressed over the years, and maybe come out of their shells and share their experiences.”

Kroll took on her new role as The Lexington Center’s Activity Director just two months ago and soon after began the task of planning events for the residents. Her love of history and of the center’s residents ignited her plans for the veterans program.

“I am a big history buff and I saw that Sept. 17 was National POW/MIA Recognition Day,” Kroll said. “We have so many residents who are veterans — one of them was a prisoner of war, so I started planning this program to honor them.

“I really wanted to showcase the lives of veterans and make this a positive time for them,” she added. “So I contacted Charlotte Oleinik at the HEARTS Veterans Museum and she kind of made it all happen.”

In addition to providing the connection with the SHSU ROTC, the HEARTS Museum is donating items to display for residents on the day of the event. The museum has already provided historical information to The Lexington Center for use in the program.

“We are so grateful to the HEARTS Museum and Charlotte Oleinik for all their efforts to make this happen for us,” Kroll said. “We could not have done it without them.”

According to Kroll, resident’s friends, family and visitors have shown great interest in the program and plan to attend. The public is invited to attend as well, but due to limited space, they are asked to call ahead at (936) 295-4488.

“Those who want to help with the program itself are welcome as well,” she said. “Just give us a call.”

Kroll said she hopes to see this event expanded in the future years, to include more participation and public attendance.

“While they are quickly dwindling, veterans of World War II are still here and they still have a legacy to share,” Kroll said. “I think that people forget that if it wasn’t for them, we might not have the freedoms that we have today.”

The Lexington Center is located at 679 I-45 South next to the bowling alley in Huntsville. For more information call (936) 295-4488 or visit www.thelexingtoncenter.com.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/200-Ameri ... l?x=0&.v=1 200 American POWs and MIAs from 33 States and 5 Wars to be Honored at National POW/MIA Recognition Weekend in Andersonville, GA, Sept. 16-18, 2010 Press Release Source: Rolling Thunder, Inc. On Thursday September 2, 2010, 10:30 am EDT

ANDERSONVILLE, Ga., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolling Thunder®'s 2010 Ride Home, a multi-day annual activity held in conjunction with the Andersonville National Historic Site and the Friends of Andersonville to recognize and honor the nation's Prisoners of War (POW) and those still Missing in Action (MIA), will be held in Andersonville and Americus, GA, Sept. 16-18, 2010.

Hundreds of Rolling Thunder members are expected to gather to honor an estimated 200 former POWs/MIA family members from around the country who are scheduled to attend this year's program of events as guests of Rolling Thunder. A highlight of this year's activities is the presence of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which will be escorted by Rolling Thunder to the Andersonville National Historic Site where it will remain on display for 10 days.

This year's events will also include, for the first time, representatives of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization founded in 1928 to remember and honor mothers who have lost sons or daughters in service to the United States. The organization was named after the Gold Star that families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran.

Complete details on all events can be found on The Ride Home website. The national organization, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. was organized in 1987 to raise awareness of POW, MIA and Veterans rights issues. It is known for its annual demonstration "Ride For Freedom" in Washington, D.C. during Memorial Day weekend. For more information visit the National Rolling Thunder website.

Editor's Note:

Rolling Thunder contacts are Jim "Moe" Moyer, chair, (407) 448-1181, moehog@verizon.net, or Patty Christo, event coordinator, (239) 357-8592, info@theridehome.com.

The National Park Service, Brad Bennett, superintendent, Andersonville National Historic Site, (229) 924-0343 ext 105, brad_bennett@nps.gov. or Alan Marsh, Cultural Resource Specialist, NHS, (229) 924 0343 ext 115,michael_marsh@nps.gov.

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/lo ... to--79.php Veterans remember those who have yet to return By: Greg Bischof - Texarkana Gazette - Published: 09/04/2010 The local chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America on Friday opened its 23rd annual POW/MIA vigil with the theme “Leave No Vet Behind.”

The start of the two-day event included a POW/MIA Vets Table ceremony at the Korea/Vietnam War Memorial at West Seventh Street and North State Line Avenue in Texarkana.

World War ll POW Billy Walker set the tone with a recitation that described the table’s setting.

An empty chair symbolizes the person who is either missing or in a POW camp, he said. A red rose symbolizes families waiting for the return of a missing or captured...

`63 Dodge Dart POW-MIA drag car.

Due to unforeseen circumstances...we have to sell the `63 Dodge Dart POW-MIA drag car.

If it is not too much trouble, could you please forward to all of your contacts? Listed in the auction is every detail in regards to this beautiful memorial to our Missing Men from All Wars.

Thanks so much for all of your support for the past 10 years.

With warmest regards, Pam Imhoff/ CEO/Founder:

RACE FOR TIME....LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND EBAY LISTING #180553363924