College of the Ozarks dedicates POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park
College of the Ozarks dedicated its new POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., honoring American Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action.
The dedication brought together college leaders, veterans, former prisoners of war, students and members of the community, to remember those who endured captivity and reaffirm the nation’s commitment to those who have yet to be accounted for.
College of the Ozarks dedicates POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park (Photo courtesy of College of the Ozarks)
The ceremony opened with a prelude by the College of the Ozarks Concert Band, followed by a welcome from Brigadier General James P. Schreffler, vice president of patriotic programs at College of the Ozarks. Chaplain Col. Robert Certain, USAF (Ret.), who was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam from 1972 to 1973, gave the invocation.
A commitment to honor those who served
College of the Ozarks President Brad Johnson spoke on behalf of the College, reminding students, visitors and veterans of the commitment made to honor those who have served our country.
“College of the Ozarks intentionally acknowledges the sacrifice of the men and women who serve our country and defended the freedoms we hold dear,” Johnson said. “Today, we are honored to dedicate this memorial and honor all those who are prisoners of war or those missing in action.”
Following Johnson’s remarks, Col. John Clark, USAF (Ret.), spoke on behalf of the POW community. Held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam from 1967 to 1973, Clark has participated in the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program.
In his remarks, Clark was honest about the faith struggles he experienced during his six-year captivity. As he prayed for a sign of God’s presence, God provided that encouragement: After recalling the cross atop his boyhood church, Clark awakened to see the light striking a cross shape in the wall of his cell.
He was also encouraged by his friendship with a fellow prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton.
“In our discussions of God and faith, my roommate and I decided there were five things that, for us as captive warriors, were most important in our determination to return home,” Clark said. “One, faith in God. Two, faith in America, our nation, that we would never be forgotten. Three, faith in our fellow prisoners of war, for together we stand and survive. Four, faith in family. And five, faith in ourselves, to pull these things together and return home with honor. This is what the monument before us today symbolizes to me.”
Heather Harris, director of the European-Mediterranean Region at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), spoke on behalf of the MIA Accounting Mission, honoring those who are Missing in Action, and reminding their families that they will never be forgotten. This year, Harris and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency have properly identified 250 service members, providing closure for families who have been waiting to bury their loved ones for decades and even generations. “Behind every successful identification is a family who did not give up hope,” she said.
A promise unveiled
The unveiling of the monument was led by George Blassie, brother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, who was killed in action and laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery from 1984 to 1998 in the Vietnam War Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, until DNA testing later revealed his identity. The Blassie family is grateful for the Freedom of Information Act, the foundation of their fight to have the remains positively identified, finally giving the family closure after 26 years.
Certain, Clark, USAF Col. (Ret.) Tom Moe, President Johnson and Schreffler joined Blassie in the unveiling of the memorial. Moe, a former POW in Vietnam from 1968 to 1973, has also participated in the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program.
An eternal flame, an unfinished mission
The ceremony also included presentation of colors by College of the Ozarks Bobcat Guard Officer Leadership Development candidates, musical selections by the College Concert Band and Chapel Choir, the lighting of the memorial’s eternal flame, placement of a wreath and the playing of “Taps” by Sgt. Maj. Bob Smither.
The eternal flame symbolizes the continuous search for all 81,000 American service members who remain missing from World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War,” shared Gen. Shreffler. “It represents the light of hope that burns in our hearts, that all those still missing will someday return home and will never be forgotten.”
The location of the monument is in itself symbolic, farthest from the park’s other memorials. The walk to reach it is a chance to reflect on the separation experienced by the prisoners and the missing.
The ceremony concluded as student participants in the Patriotic Education Travel Program laid roses at the base of the memorial while the College of the Ozarks Chapel Choir, Chorale and Concert Band performed special music honoring those who served.
The ceremony was followed by a jet flyover of four jets over Patriots Park in a missing man formation.
Student reflections
Students left the POW/MIA memorial dedication with a greater appreciation for the sacrifices made for their freedom.
Freshman Anna Berger, who participated in the Concert Band during the ceremony, shared, “It felt wonderful to experience a ceremony memorializing the hidden pain that many veterans and their families suffer. This dedication service, as well as C of O’s Patriotic Pillar, have helped me and hundreds of visitors open our hearts to their perspective. Growing up as a military kid, it is easy to feel alone in the civilian world. However, this ceremony was extremely encouraging. This monument will forever hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to visiting it when I need to tap back into that perspective.”
Junior engineering major Matthew Smith was especially inspired by the fighter jet flyover.
“Watching it, I realized that it symbolized that one of the jets did not make it home. Seeing this in the formation really hit me. Someone was out in enemy territory, still fighting.”
Several students commented on the impact of being a student at this particular moment in time. “This dedication will only happen once,” shared a member of the student media team. “Now we have a responsibility to pass this memory on.”
The Patriotic Pillar in action
The new memorial further strengthens the College’s commitment to honoring American service members and educating future generations about the sacrifices made in defense of the nation’s freedoms.
“During the last 53 years, the College has continued to emphasize the Patriotic Pillar by encouraging an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibility, love of country and the willingness to defend it,” Johnson said. “The Patriotic Education Program includes distinct elements such as the Travel Program, required citizenship classes and events like the one we are enjoying today.”
In 2023, College of the Ozarks became the first college to receive the designation of POW/MIA campus, bestowed by the board of directors of the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum. The College also flies the POW/MIA flag as a daily reminder of those who endured captivity and those who remain missing.
“Being designated a POW/MIA campus is a powerful commitment, and this new memorial makes that commitment visible and permanent, not just a title,” said Chassidy Brittain, director of patriotic activities. “It brings the mission of remembrance onto our own campus grounds, giving students and visitors a daily place to reflect, learn and honor those who endured captivity and those still unaccounted for.”
The memorial serves as a permanent place for students, visitors, veterans and members of the community to remember those sacrifices and recommit to the message: You Are Not Forgotten.
A reception at The Keeter Center followed the ceremony, providing a place for veterans and guests to fellowship and reflect together, remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America.
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