POW/MIA Events Continue at Andersonville National Historic Site

Date: September 21, 2010
Contact: Alan Marsh, 229 924-0343

Note: The 5K run planned for September 25 has been cancelled.

(Andersonville, GA)The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be at Andersonville National Historic Site through Saturday, September 25.A 5:00 p.m. closing ceremony on the 25^th will feature former prisoner of war Bill Robinson, the longest held enlisted soldier in American history. The ceremony will also honor soldiers from Macon and Sumter counties who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War and whose names are on the wall.Soldiers from Macon County are Charles Buford Johnson, Jr. and Willard David Arnold of Oglethorpe and Willie Clarence Haugabook and Claude Rice from Marshallville. Sumter County soldiers are Elijah Herring, Jr. (Leslie), Freddy Williams (Plains) and R.B. Bridges, Jr., Glenn McCuaig, Henry Pullum, Jr., Johnny Scott, and James Stewart of Americus. Family members can call Andersonville National Historic Site at 229-924-0343 for more information on the Recognition portion of the ceremony.

Additional events during the week include a memorial service at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 23 by the American Ex-Prisoners of War organization.The group of former prisoners of war is holding their annual convention in Albany and will visit Andersonville and the Vietnam Traveling Wall on Thursday.   

Two book signing events will also be held at the historic site.World War II prisoner of war (POW) Dudley Riley will be at the National Prisoner of War Museum on September 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to discuss and sign his book Farm Boy, Soldier, and Daddy.The book paints a vivid picture of life in rural western Kentucky and documents Riley's capture in North Africa and subsequent captivity in Stalag III-B during the war.

On September 24 and 25 author Bob Bovitch will be at the museum from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with his books Words From the Heart and Let Them Never Be Forgotten.  Bovitch spent one tour of duty in Vietnam and dedicates his life to honoring Vietnam Veterans.Words From the Heart is a collection of heart-filled poems dedicated to those who were prisoners of war and those still missing in action.Let Them Never Be Forgotten is a commitment to those whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Andersonville National Historic Site is located ten miles south of Oglethorpe and Montezuma, Georgia, and ten miles north of Americus, Georgia on Highway 49.Park grounds, including Andersonville National Cemetery, open at 8:00 a.m. and the National Prisoner of War Museum opens at 8:30 a.m. The park, cemetery, and museum have extended hours during the stay of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall and will close at 7:00 p.m.For more information call 229 924-0343 or visit online at  www.nps.gov/ande.