The citizens of the City of Bristol (Conn.) raised funds and built a POW/MIA monument to honor area POW/MIA veterans. The monument was finished in time to be dedicated on Memorial Day.
On Sept. 20, the first POW/MIA ceremony was held by Post 2. Members, family and friends gathered to remember.
The Missing Man Table was performed along with the Pledge of Allegiance by a World War II Iwo Jima survivor, soon to turn 100. We were informed he was one of two known Iwo Jima survivors in Connecticut.
The ceremony was held in honor of Edward Riccio, a former Pearl Harbor survivor who passed in 2014, Ed was a POW for a short time during the war. Also to remember George Barnett, killed in a POW camp during the Korean War. Lastly, a WWII veteran who was part of the Bataan Death March.
Flags were placed for those lost and missing, and one in memory of Art Ward, who was behind the Missing Man Table at all events, who passed a few years ago.