While many stayed inside on Friday during the sporadic showers, two cadets posted in front of Ruston City Hall -one underneath a make-shift bamboo cage and the other standing adjacent, holding a rifle.
“We got soaked but it was OK,” said Cadet Col. Barry James, who is the cadet wing commander of ROTC.
or every hour the cadets stood still in silent, watching cars passing by. It was the third Friday of September, and it was time to honor those who were prisoners of war and still missing in action.
n July 18, 1979, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing the observance of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which was later moved to be observed in the month of September.
epending on the location, some cities’ observances are recognized more than others. But all locations display the same black and white National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag.
ccording to James, 22, the local ROTC cadets have been doing this since the 1960s.
”On the 14th floor of the ROTC building you will see all the pictures.”
owever, only a few locals stopped to take pictures and ask.
”Majority of the population don’t even know about this …. it deserves more attention,” said James.
itting against the concrete column, Kyle Williams said,”We are all about to go into the military…just want to give back to those who have come before us… some of them have been in prison or war camps longer than I have been in school.”
illiams, a Monroe native, is a cadet first lieutenant, this was his first time participating in the vigil.