Dubois County remembers the missing and captured on National POW/MIA Recognition Day
JASPER, Ind. (WEHT) — Today is National Missing in Action and Prisoner of War Recognition Day, a time when communities around the country come together to honor those who did not make it home.
"We must not forget the sacrifices that these comrades are enduring or have endured for us and our way of life," says officials with VFW Post 673.
It is held on the third Friday of September each year. For the past decade, VFW Post 673 in Jasper has held a ceremony to honor a local POW or MIA. This year, the service recognized Air Force Captain Kurt Weisman.
"This was a beautiful remembrance they did for him today," says Becky Beckman, Captain Weisman's sister.
For the Beckman and Weisman families, the day brings raw emotions and feelings of gratitude. 52 years ago, Becky's brother went missing in action. 10 days later, she received notice he died after his plane was shot down over South Vietnam during the Eastertide Offensive in April of 1972.
"He volunteered for one that he did not need to be on. He was finished, but took one more and did not make it back," says Tom Beckman, Becky's husband.
"He was a fun-loving person. For someone so young, he lived a very full and happy life," Becky says.
Weisman graduated from Jasper High School in 1964. Today, Becky has pictures, certificates showing his accomplishments, and a special golden bracelet to remember him.
"The pilots over there in Vietnam carried those so if they were shot down, found by villagers and alive, they could break off a chunk of that bracelet and give it to the villagers to earn their freedom," says Becky.
Today's ceremony also recognized the thousands of Hoosier service men and women who never made it home. After recognizing Captain Weisman, organizers took turns putting roses at an empty table setting.
"The red is for the heroism they showed. The white is for happiness and for us remembering. The blue is symbolic of what we will never forget. It is just one way that we can symbolize POW and MIA's, besides the black and white POW flag," says David Flynn. the Senior Vice Commander VFW Post 673
