By Mark Webber
The National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans is one of the latest annual events to be canceled by COVID-19.
The ceremony, which would have been held today, has been known to attract up to 100 people.
In contrast with other military observances, one of the main concerns of POW/MIA Recognition Day are surviving family members, event organizer Bob Miller said.
Over the years, there have been too many parents, siblings, spouses, sons and daughters who are denied emotional closure because they have no idea what happened to their loved one, Miller said.
Friday’s cancellation was especially unfortunate because this year marks the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the POW-MIA Plaza, located just off the Robert N. Stewart Memorial Bridge.
But something more visible has been put up for this weekend after two cadette girl scouts — Harmony Black and Natalie Lewis of Troop 3063 — created a 3-feet by 5-feet commemorative banner.
Since the request from Columbus City Hall to make the banner was given in short notice, the teens say they had to rush to quickly put together the banner for the 20-year commemoration.
It took only an hour to come up with the design, Lewis say, while cutting out the letters took a few hours, according to Black. Putting it all together only took about 20 minutes, the two scouts said.
While Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day may be well-known, Black said she was never taught about POW/MIA Recognition Day — until she talked about its importance with Miller.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop has asked Troop 3063 co-leader Kathleen Lewis if members of her troop can take more time over the next 12 months to come up with a more elaborate and permanent banner that can be displayed in subsequent years, the troop leader said.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic
