Wareham High School receives POW/MIA Chair of Honor
Jan 31, 2019
From left: Chair of the Friends of the Wareham Veterans Council Bob Powilatis, Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino and Col. Matt Stanton chat before Thursday’s donation. Photo by: Matthew Bernat
From left: Kevin Ward of the American Legion, Mike Ward of the Elks, Col. Matt Stanton of the Junior Reserve Officers Corps, Principal Scott Palladino and Chair of the Friends of the Wareham Veterans Council Bob Powilatis. Photo by: Matthew Bernat
The POW/MIA Chair of Honor will be on display in the school’s foyer for select occasions, such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Photo by: Matthew Bernat
A potent reminder of veterans’ sacrifice will be displayed in Wareham High School on special occasions following a donation.
On Thursday, representatives from several groups that support veterans donated a POW/MIA Chair of Honor and a POW/MIA flag. Col. Matt Stanton, of the school’s chapter of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program, and Principal Scott Palladino accepted the donation.
Both noted the corps has had to borrow the items the past few years from a local veterans group. The chair is placed in the school’s foyer near Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Students in the corps display the flag during various ceremonies throughout year. Having them stored at the school will allow for more opportunities for both to be displayed, said Stanton.
Bob Powilatis, chair of the Friends of the Wareham Veterans Council, said the empty chair represents those service members who are unable to fill it due to their sacrifice.
“We never want to forget these guys,” said Powilatis.
Palladino said he was grateful for the donation.
“This will remind students to respect the sacrifices others have so they can enjoy the freedoms that they have,” he said.
The chair and flag were donated by the Friends of the Wareham Veterans Council and Wareham chapters of the Lodge of Elks, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
