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POW/MIA Chair of Honor Dedication Ceremony 7/25/21
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Rolling Thunder dedicated a POW-MIA Missing Man Chair at the Cathedral of the Pines on Sunday, concluding the ceremony by placing the chair on display in the Cathedral’s museum. “This chair will be displayed here at the Cathedral of the Pines forever,” said Jeff Neipp, President of Rolling Thunder Vermont 1. “We’ve got chairs in sports stadiums, statehouses, town commons.” The chair will remain on display as a symbol of respect and honor to the men and women who never came home from service due to being prisoners of war or missing in action. The event was held by Rolling Thunder, chapters Vermont 1 and New Hampshire 2. “Our hope is that someday we can resolve this organization by saying, ‘All accounted for,’” said Marsha Bailey, New England Chapter Liaison. Neipp told the story of a WWII veteran from his hometown who recently passed away at the age of 102. This veteran was a Gold Star Father who lost his son in Vietnam in 1966, Neipp said. “The chair is a real symbol. … when you think of a man who spent his whole 102 years on this earth and 55 were without his son. … For all those veterans who didn’t return with flag-draped coffins this chair also recognizes your service,” Neipp said. “Rolling Thunder members you are the eternal flame that the 82,000 Americans still missing will not be forgotten. This empty chair of honor is a clear reminder of the sacrifice of every veteran missing or fallen.” The main mission of Rolling Thunder is to publicize the POW-MIA issue by educating the public that “many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future Veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War-Missing In Action.” The group is also committed to helping American veterans from all wars. From, www.monadnockbeat.com
