COLUMBUS, Ind. — The local edition of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony is this Friday, September 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans behind the courthouse. The ceremony will be held rain or shine.
The 45-minute presentation will include a reading of the 55 names of the Columbus area service men and women who were either declared POW, MIA, or both.
The special guest speakers this year are Sandra LaBarbera and her brother, Ernest Walke Jr. Their father, Ernest Walke Sr., was in the force that liberated Paris during WWII and was later captured by the Germans.
Also participating in the event are:
- Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir
- Vocalist, Harvey Leggett, Pastor/Former Marine
- Bugler, Michael Schmelz, Columbus City Band
- Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard
- Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums
Over 80,000 military personnel remain unaccounted for since WWII.
