Local Rolling Thunder chapter begins school district partnership with POW/MIA flag raising ceremony

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Rolling Thunder Georgia-3 members display the POW/MIA flag before hoisting it up the flagpole at Thomson Middle School during a ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 3. (Brieanna Smith/HHJ)

CENTERVILLE — A local organization launched a partnership with the local school district on Wednesday morning to raise awareness and ensure that soldiers missing in action are never forgotten.

On Sept. 3, Rolling Thunder Georgia-3, with motorcycles roaring, rolled into Thomson Middle School’s parking lot, joining students, staff and city officials. There, the organization raised its first Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag of the day and held a dedication ceremony.

Thomson Middle School’s flag was dedicated to Donald Randall Fowler, an Army specialist from Athens who went missing during the Vietnam War in 1968.

Andy Cannon speaks at the ceremony at Thomson Middle School on Wednesday, Sept 3. (Brieanna Smith/HHJ)

Andy Cannon, a member of the Rolling Thunder chapter, explained the flag’s significance at the ceremony.

“This flag symbolizes our government’s commitment to never give up, assurance for those who are still missing in action from previous wars. This flag is a powerful remembrance of the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their families,” he said.

The organization has partnered with the Houston County School District to place a POW/MIA flag on the flagpoles of every school; Wednesday, the organization visited several more, including Northside High School and Centerville Elementary.

The POW/MIA flag flies high during the ceremony on Wednesday, Sept 3. (Brieanna Smith/HHJ)

Their goal is to visit each of the district’s schools within the next few weeks to place a flag. At each location, Rolling Thunder will spread awareness about the flag’s importance.

“The purpose of our visit here [Wednesday] is to educate the public and educate some students about how important this POW flag is to the veterans and their families in our community. There are hundreds of veterans who lost loved ones in Korea and Vietnam, and this flag is a symbol of our government’s commitment to keep up the search and never forget those who who fought so greatly for our country,” Cannon said.

Cannon’s idea set the plan in motion and he was hopeful the ceremony made an impact on the students in attendance.

“We hope that they learned a little bit today, and we hope that they can go home and tell their parents of what happened at their school today,” he said.

Next up for Rolling Thunder is a Remembering Heroes Ride to Andersonville National Historic Site on Sept. 20. To stay up to date on the organization, visit its Facebook page.