A monument in tribute to all POWs and MIAs will be formally dedicated during a special ceremony that will take place in conjunction with the annual Memorial Day ceremonies at Bloomfield's Veterans Cemetery on May 26, it has been announced by Cemetery Director Ken Swearingen.

The idea of placing a monument in memory of prisoners of war and those soldiers designated as missing in action originated with members of Stoddard County's Honor Guard Team, who, once the petition was approved by the Missouri Veterans Commission, accepted the responsibility of coordinating the effort to purchase and install the monument.

"All of the service organizations of Stoddard County including American Legion Post 382 of Bloomfield, VFW Post 7822 of Puxico, DAV Chapter 47 of Dexter, VFW Post 7750 of Advance, Kenady-Hanks American Legion Post 59 of Dexter and Hale Swinger VFW Post 2659 of Dexter, readily provided equal funds toward completion of the project," Swearingen explained.

The monument has been installed in the center of the flag plaza in front of the cemetery Committal Shelter, which will serve as the location for its dedication on Memorial Day. Liley Monument out of Marble Hill was commissioned for the project.

Invitations to attend the dedication ceremony, as well as a reception at 11:30 a.m. hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary, have been sent to all known former POW/MIA personnel and their family members, according to the cemetery director. The reception will take place at the cemetery's administration facility.

Lt. General Clyde A. Vaughn, originally from Dexter and currently will be the serving as director of the Army National Guard, will be the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day event. Vaughn guides the formulation, development and implementation of all programs and policies affecting the Army National Guard; a force of over 350,000 soldiers in all 50 States, the Territories and the District of Columbia.

Other prominent personnel who have been invited to attend and speak at the ceremony are the Presiding Stoddard County Commissioner Gregg Mathis, State Representative District Billy Pat Wright (R-159), and State Senator Rob Mayer (R-25). The ceremony will commence at 1:00 PM at the cemetery Committal Shelter Plaza.

The community is invited to attend and assist in honoring all veterans and the dedication of a monument to those former POW personnel who have returned home and those still listed as missing in action.