American Legion post honors POWs/MIAs at ceremony

It was 2nd annual event for Indian Head Randolph Furey Post 170

American Legion Randolph Furey Post 170 held its second annual prisoners of war and missing in action (POW/MIA) recognition ceremony on Saturday in Indian Head, honoring the families of four soldiers who have been missing or unaccounted for between the late 1960s and early ‘70s. The ceremony honored U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David A. Davidson of Riverdale; U.S. Army Pfc. Francis DeSales Wills of La Plata; U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James Frederick Worth of Hillside; and U.S. Army Cpl. Dewey Renee Butler of North Carolina.

More than two dozen Legionnaries and local community members attended the event, facilitated by Legion Auxiliary Unit 170 chairwoman Mayvee Smith, Post 170 commander Allen McKenzie and Post 170 adjutant Dyotha Sweat. Special guest speakers included American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259 President and National Security Chairwoman Brie O’Neal and Del. Edith Patterson (D-Charles).

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which falls on the third Friday in September, encourages Americans to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by the military men and women who are imprisoned or unaccounted for as a result of their military service. More than 82,000 Americans remain missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War and other conflicts, according to the national American Legion’s website.

American Legion Post 170 is located at 4345 Livingston Road in Indian Head. For more information, go to http://www. post170md.org/.

STAFF PHOTOS BY JOHNATHON CLINKSCALES Above left, American Legion Randolph Furey Post 170 Commander Allen McKenzie, left, reads a handout while Auxiliary Unit 170 chairwoman Mayvee Smith speaks to a group of Legionnaires during the Post’s second annual POW/MIA recognition ceremony on Saturday in Indian Head. Above right, American Legion Post 233 Southern Maryland District service officer Leon Parks, far right, joins Post 170 adjutant Dyotha Sweat and commander Allen McKenzie in saluting fallen and missing service members while an Auxiliary Unit 170 member places a U.S. Marine Corps service cap on the POW/MIA table during Saturday’s recognition ceremony. Below left, Chante Renee Butler, center, smiles as she prepares to receive an honorary service citation from the American Legion in recognition of her father, Cpl. Dewey Renee Butler, who has been missing in action since 1969 during the Vietnam War. Chante also received a POW/MIA event pin. Below right, family members stand with Janice Brooks, sister of Pfc. Francis DeSales Wills from La Plata who has been missing in action since 1966 during the Vietnam War, as she speaks to a small crowd during the POW/MIA recognition ceremony.