POINT LOOKOUT, MO — As the nation observes National POW/MIA Recognition Day, College of the Ozarks is reaffirming its commitment to remembering American service members who endured captivity as Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action.

Observed annually on the third Friday of September, National POW/MIA Recognition Day honors former Prisoners of War, remembers those who remain missing and recognizes the families who continue to await answers. The observance also serves as a reminder of the nation’s ongoing commitment to account for those who have not returned home.

The College’s commitment to this mission will take on a permanent presence with the dedication of its new POW*MIA Memorial in Patriots Park on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. The memorial will provide students, visitors, and the community with a place to reflect on the sacrifices of American service members, remember their legacy, and honor those who endured captivity or remain unaccounted for.

In 2023, College of the Ozarks became the first college to be honored with the designation of POW/MIA Campus. The designation was bestowed by the Board of Directors of the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum and presented at Patriots Park by spokesperson Scott Readnour, museum coordinator. The College proudly flies the POW/MIA flag as a daily reminder of the nation’s commitment to remember those who have not returned home. The distinctive black-and-white flag was designed by Newt Heisley and adopted in 1972 as the official emblem of the National League of POW/MIA Families.

“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. In that way, the monument strengthens the meaning of the designation by turning it into a living, ongoing witness.”

The dedication of the memorial on Nov. 5 will provide the College and the surrounding community an opportunity to gather in remembrance and reaffirm the message represented by the POW/MIA flag: You Are Not Forgotten.

The memorial will become a lasting part of Patriots Park and the College’s Patriotic Pillar, providing future generations with a place to learn about the sacrifices of American service members and reflect on the freedoms those sacrifices helped preserve.