Andersonville, GSW host POW/MIA events

Local News

September 12, 2007

From Staff Reports The Times-Recorder Wed Sep 12, 2007, 11:34 PM EDT

AMERICUS — In remembrance of National Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day, the National Park Service sponsors a series of events Sept. 19-22. The programs are sponsored by a collaboration of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), Andersonville National Historic Site and Rolling Thunder. The theme of this year's event is "Race and the American POW."

The event begins with a community-wide symposium at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Rylander Theatre. The symposium features retired Air Force Col. Fred Cherry and retired Navy Cmdr. Porter Halyburton, who were both prisoners of war (POW) in Vietnam. They were cell mates in the Hanoi Hilton and wrote about their experience in "Two Souls Indivisible," which documents the genesis of their strong friendship.

At 11 a.m. Sept. 21, a convocation that is open to the public will be held at GSW. The program features retired Air Force Maj. Carol S. Woods who was a pilot from the famed Tuskegee Airman who was shot down and held as a POW of the Germans. Woods and all the former POWs in attendance will be escorted by motorcycle riders from various veterans groups from Andersonville to the convocation.

At 8 p.m. Friday, Rolling Thunder sponsors a candlelight ceremony in the prison site at Andersonville.

At 10 a.m. Sept. 22, Rolling Thunder sponsors a ceremony to honor POWs and remember those who are still missing in action. The featured speaker is retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Guy Hunter, who was a POW in Iraq during the Gulf War.

The event is funded by the Friends of Andersonville through the Andersonville Trust, an endowment fund that supports park activities.

All events are free and open to the public.

Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles north of Americus on Ga. Highway 49. Park grounds open at 8 a.m., the National Prisoner of War Museum opens at 8:30 a.m. The park closes at 5 p.m.

For more information call 924-0343.

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