CHARLESTON — VFW Post 1592 in Charleston has long been a place where veterans, their families and friends can enjoy a meal and fellowship.
Now, there will be a constant reminder in front of the VFW building at 1821 20th St. that someone is missing from these gatherings. The Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 3 veterans advocacy group held a dedication ceremony on Saturday for a new POW/MIA chair that will always remain empty outside the post in memory of the more than 80,000 U.S. military service members still unaccounted for since World War I.
"A lot of families have not gotten the closure they so desperately need," said chapter President Tony Schmidt of Olney.
Chapter spokesman Faron Lancaster of Olney said their Rolling Thunder group has been reaching out to veterans organizations, municipalities and others about placing POW/MIA chairs to help ensure that those missing service members are not forgotten. That outreach effort led them to VFW Post 1592 in Charleston and its quartermaster, Bob Creek.
"I thought it was a great idea. I wanted to do it immediately," Creek said, adding that he then invited Rolling Thunder representatives to make a presentation to the Charleston post. Creek said the post is excited about being able to offer this new memorial for the community, so it helped organize the public dedication ceremony on Saturday.
During this ceremony, Rolling Thunder and the VFW also dedicated a flag retirement box that has been placed alongside the POW/MIA chair. Schmidt said this metal box will provide a place where community members can drop off old, worn out U.S. flags for proper disposal. This box includes the names of 28 fallen service members from Coles County who remain unaccounted or whose remains had not been recovered until recent years.
Rolling Thunder member Marlene Van Matre of Mahomet, formerly of Toledo, said her husband, David, has crafted this flag retirement box and others that have been placed by the veterans advocacy group, including one that is set to be dedicated alongside a POW/MIA chair at 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Greenup VFW post.
Van Matre said she joined Rolling Thunder after this group took part in ceremonies in 2018 honoring her brother, Specialist Michael Flood, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War. The Illinois Department of Transportation posted signs on Illinois Route 121 between County Road 1450 East and 1600 East that year to rename it the "SPC Michael Flood Memorial Highway" in honor of the fallen service member.
Rolling Thunder includes men and women, veterans and nonveterans, and motorcycle enthusiasts and nonriders among its members. This nonprofit group's charitable efforts include visiting veterans and bringing supplies to them at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and at nursing homes.
Van Matre said she has been honored to be part of Rolling Thunder as this group has provided escorts for military funerals and other services, and as it has been placing POW/MIA chairs in communities.Â
"The more we were with Rolling Thunder we saw there was a need for people to be aware of all the losses their communities have had," Van Matre said.
From the Archives: Honoring our veterans
From the Archives: Honoring our veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post-1952 Commander Jim Hood

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Wednesday, November 12, 2003.
Mattoon American Legion members stand with WWII M3 Stuart Tank

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Mattoon High School's Veterans Day assembly

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.
Eric Debault, a Lake Land College student veteran

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Monday, November 5, 2012.
EIU to honor veterans at ceremony

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 7, 2006.
Veterans Day concert planned

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Carl Sandburg Elementary second-graders perform The Star Spangled Banner

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Wednesday, November 12, 2003.
American Legion Post 539 fire a salute

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Saturday, November 9, 2002.
Veteran Maj. Todd Baughman speaks at Mattoon High School

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.
American Legion Post 88 member and Navy veteran David Slifer

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Monday, November 12, 2012.
Mattoon Civil War Memorial Eclipse

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
Chaplain Captain Chris Linzey with his father

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Sunday, November 11, 2012.
Saluting service members on Veterans Day

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.
Charleston Veterans Day

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Monday, November 12, 2018.
We are the lucky ones

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Thursday, November 12, 1998.
Mattoon High School JROTC Drill Team

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.
Students and staff welcomed family and friends to honor and thank veterans

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Saturday, December 15, 2012.
Pearl Harbor survivor Huston James and former Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr.

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Friday, November 12, 2004.
Ceremony salutes veterans, highlights monument updates

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Thursday, November 12, 2015.
World War II veteran Chick Debault

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Thursday, November 10, 2005.
Day for Thanks

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Saturday, November 12, 2005.
Charleston youth take in Veterans Day ceremony

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 13, 2012.
Vietnam veteran Bob Black, Sr.

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Wednesday, November 12, 2008.
Veteran tribute

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Saturday, November 12, 2011.
Veterans Day ceremony at Coles County Courthouse

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.
Veterans Day parade, ceremony held in Mattoon

Ran in the Journal Gazette on Saturday, November 12, 2016.