The Omaha American Legion Riders are raising money for a memorial chair at Werner Park.
The chair is decorated with the POW/MIA emblem, and will sit empty at every ball game. It serves as a reminder of the more than 82,000 men and women unaccounted for since World War One.
Saturday, the legion held a pancake feed and raffle to raise money for the chair and memorial plaque.
One of the items in the raffle was a metal POW/MIA plaque made by the same artist who made the giant metal Omaha Police shield in honor of fallen officer Kerrie Orozco.
"We have an obligation to remember them. There's a saying that 'Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance." And that's what this is. This will promote remembrance. When someone, a visitor to Werner Park, sees this chair, whether they ask what it's about, maybe their children will ask what it's about, it will be a teaching opportunity for them to let their kids know that freedom isn't free. There's a price to be paid,” said Bob Swanson, past commander of Omaha Post 1 American Legion Riders.
Swanson got the idea for the chair after seeing similar memorials at other stadiums. He contacted Werner Park president and general manager Martie Cordaro, who was glad to accommodate the chair.
Swanson asked those who couldn't attend to send in donations. Checks can be made out to ALR with POW/MIA in the Memo section. Checks can be sent to:
American Legion Omaha Post 1
7811 Davenport St.
Omaha, NE 68114
