Carla Clark | For The Republic Kevin Hogan, son of Bob Hogan, at left and Gene Hogan, son of Jack Hogan, hold photos of their fathers and medals they earned during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, Columbus, Ind., Friday, September 19, 2025.
Bartholomew County observed the 11th annual POW/MIA Recognition Day on Friday, with ceremonies at the county’s veterans memorial on the courthouse lawn.
The U.S. Congress declared the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979.
The event is especially important to family members and friends who are denied emotional closure because they have no idea what happened to their loved one, according to organizer Bob Miller, an Army veteran.
“The national day is to keep a focus on the fact that these guys haven’t come home and the families don’t have closure,” Miller said.
More than 80,000 American service members remain unaccounted for from past conflicts, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Of those, 38,000 are estimated to be recoverable.
Zack Ellison, event emcee and veteran of the Marine Corps, recounted the story of two brothers native to Columbus — Ernest “Jack” Hogan and Robert E. Hogan — who served during World War II. The Hogan family served as representation for all of the county’s POW/MIA families.
There was a reading of the names of each of the prisoners of war and veterans missing in action from Bartholomew County, a rifle volley by the American Legion Post 24 color guard and musical performances from Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir.
The remembrance will featured “Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums” and a performance of “Proud To Be An American” by David Maurey.
