Submitted by Boy Scout Troop 194
The American Legion Post 221 in Bedford held a ceremony to honor POW/MIA’s on September 20, 2015, and Bedford Boy Scout Troop 194 had the honor of assisting with the event. The Scouts are a civic minded organization, and several times during their program year they assist with events in support of their community.
Members of the American Legion Riders, motorcyclists who have a mission to honor veterans, arrived on their bikes and then offloaded and marched as Scout Quinn Ricci played a drum cadence as they processed with flags to the front of the American Legion Post.
Brian Ward, the 2nd Vice Commander of the Bedford Post, greeted the group and the ceremony continued with Boy Scout Troop 194 Senior Patrol leader Will Devoe leading boys from the troop as a flag honor guard.
Post Commander Jon (O.C.) O’Connor led the ceremony, which also included active service members and members of Bedford VFW Post 1628. The scouts participated in reading lines to the attendees, which described the significance of the Legion’s “empty chair,” a display that acts as a memorial and remembrance to those armed service members that remain missing or unaccounted for.
Representative Ken Gordon was in attendance with his son Brandon, and after the ceremony he thanked the Scouts for their participation in this often overlooked but important event. Boy Scout Troop alumni and military service members Army Corporal and Eagle Scout Patrick Coady and Navy Corpsman Chris Grant paused to take a photo with the young scouts at the end of the event.
