The memory of United States military bravery will always have a seat at Miami University’s Yager Stadium.
A special memorial stadium seat dedicated to America’s prisoners of war (POW) and those missing in action (MIA) was unveiled last week with the help of local veterans and Ohio Sen. Bill Coley (R-Liberty Twp.).
During the Nov. 20 Miami University football game against Akron, more than a dozen regional and state officials joined Miami President Gregory Crawford in showing off the specially designed chair for the first time.
“Miami has a tradition of honoring veterans and supporting veterans within our community. We’re adding this empty chair at Yager Stadium to remind us of the sacrifice of families of veterans who are missing in action or prisoners of war,” Crawford said.
“It is a visible reminder, to pause and take a moment to reflect and be grateful for the service of military members whose own chairs at home go empty.”
The chair will be installed next year in the south stands of Yager Stadium.
Last year, Miami unveiled its military veterans memorial honoring the school’s alumni who have served in America’s armed forces. Planning, funding and building the Alumni Veterans Tribute was a project of five years’ work.
The memorial includes the names of Miamians who were killed in action or missing in action and a website with a searchable database of Miamians who have served or are serving.
According to school officials, for more than two centuries, more than 8,000 alumni of Miami University have served in our country’s armed forces.
The public address announcement about the POW/MIA chair during the Miami football game noted “more than 78,000 Americans are still unaccounted for from World War II; 8,100 from Korea; 120 from the Cold War; 1,810 from Vietnam; and three from the Gulf War.”
“These courageous Americans, who dedicated their lives to preserving and protecting our freedom, will never be forgotten.”
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