County adds second POW/MIA chair of honor

“Until they all come home” is the message that nonprofit organization Rolling Thunder Georgia Chapter 3 continues to promote in the middle Georgia area to honor prisoners of war (POW) and those missing in action (MIA), while also reminding and educating the public.

Prior to Retired U.S. Army ISG James “Buster” Hickam III, president of Rolling Thunder Georgia Chapter 3, leading the Pledge of Allegiance at Tuesday evening’s Houston County Board of Commissioners meeting, a roomful of citizens stood silent while Dave Winward with the American Legion Honor Guard played taps.

Two weeks ago at the Houston County Superior Courthouse in Perry, the commissioners joined the mission of Rolling Thunder Georgia Chapter 3 with a ceremony dedicating a chair of honor and the raising of the POW/MIA flag. Commending the occasion, Crawford Hicks, a B-17 pilot who was held prisoner by the Germans in World War II; Bill Freeman, prisoner during the Korean War; and James Sehorn, prisoner during the Vietnam War, each spoke about their experiences at that time.

A similar ceremony was held Tuesday to also display a chair of honor in the lobby of the County Annex Building in Warner Robins. Hicks, Freeman and Sehorn were all present to again share their stories, which caused some people in the room to shed tears.

In a special presentation, citizens Walt and Becky Wood presented the three men each with a framed photo.

As Rolling Thunder reminds people that “we will not forget,” Hicks, Freeman and Sehorn are exemplary men who show people that they are indeed not forgotten and there is always hope that they will one day come home.

Since the local Rolling Thunder organization began in 2010, Hickam challenges the community that the county sets an example for surrounding counties until they reach Atlanta, the next state and eventually Washington D.C.

Hickam said the POW/MIA flag symbolizes a reminder and poses a question for people in knowing what the flag stands for.

He said, “When our community sees an American flag, ask: ‘What can I do to get a POW/MIA flag under it?’”

Hickam also informed commissioners and citizens that The Ride Home, which occurs the third weekend of September, will come to Warner Robins this year. He noted Warner Robins will host up to 400 honored guests.

“That’s why we encourage businesses, schools, our cities, our county to lead by example by identifying that they are not forgotten — these soldiers, these sailors, these airmen, these service members — by displaying a POW/MIA flag,” Hickam said.

Also during the meeting, the Woods presented former Houston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ned M. Sanders and developer Charlie N. McGlamry with framed photos from their recent park dedication by the county and the city of Warner Robins.

The intersection of Lake Joy Road and State Route 96 in the northeast and southwest quadrants are now known as Ned M. Sanders Progress Park and Charlie N. McGlamry Visionary Park.

In new business, the commissioners approved the following:

• Fiscal year 2017 water fund debt write-off of $17,201.53 and the waste collection (sanitation) debt write-off totaling $9,003.31 ($7,075.14 for routes 10 through 80 and $1,928.17 for route 90). The solid waste disposal (landfill) has no debt to write-off.

• Change order with Motorola Solutions Inc. on the 800 MHz E-911 communications upgrade project. The original contract price of $6,500,000 will reduce by $100,000 to $6,400,000.

• Award of five new 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit SUVs for the use by the sheriff’s department patrol division from Hardy Chevrolet of Dallas for a unit cost of $32,898. Total amount of $164,490 is to be funded by the 2012 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax).

• Acceptance of the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant in the amount of $240,000 from the state of Georgia – Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the purpose of reducing felony commitments to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

• Memorandum of agreement between Houston County and Phoenix Center Behavioral Health Services for the purposes of providing contracted clinical treatment services for the Mental Health and Veterans Accountability Court.

• Payment of the bills totaling $1,352,416.48.

A called meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, in the commissioners’ boardroom of the County Annex Building in Warner Robins to set the 2017 tax levy, make year-end budget adjustments and set the millage rate for fiscal year 2018.

Additionally, the public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony for the new Houston County Station 6, 220 Highway 247 Spur, at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 31.

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