Chair Honoring POW/MIA Soldiers to be Displayed Around Reading

The Town of Reading has a new piece of furniture. The town’s newest addition, however, is for much more than just sitting.

During Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, members welcomed Veteran’s Agent Frank Driscoll and members of Rolling Thunder Massachusetts as they dedicated a wooden chair that honors Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

The chair will spend one month at every town building, including Reading Public Schools, in an effort to educate residents about the approximately 91,000 service members who remain unaccounted for since World War I.

Members of Rolling Thunder Massachusetts have dedicated similar chairs at various towns around the state, and also at Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park and TD Garden.

“Our goal is to go a little further and get to each city and town,” said Rolling Thunder president Joe D’Entremont. “We’re hoping other surrounding towns when they see the chair going to different buildings and schools, they will see what’s going on and do it too.”

Selectmen praised the group’s effort, along with the work of Driscoll for helping make the dedication possible.

D’Entremont said it is critical to educate residents of all ages across the state about the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of the armed forces.

“We are all about awareness,” said D’Entremont. “People need to understand that 91,000 servicemen have yet to return home. That is a lot of families who don’t know where their loved on is. That is something to needs to get to our grade school kids, and to adults out there.”