As the country recognized Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, a local Rolling Thunder group provided an event one day early for residents at Ivy Hall.
Surrounded by numerous members of Rolling Thunder – Chapter 4, residents and staff were greeted with the Missing Man Ceremony to recognize veterans that are dubbed prisoners of war and still missing in action.
Prior to the start of the event, Ivy Hall Activities Director Tim Andrews took a moment to read “In Flanders Field,” written by Canadian physician Lt. Col. John McCrae during World War I  and honor the veterans from the facility.
The residents honored Thursday included Orville Grindstaff, JD Grindstaff, Curtis Stonecipher, Betty Howell, Woodrow Buchanan, Ron Kelly, Dayton Simerly, Leonard Grindstaff, Fred Trivett, Raymond Hajducsek, Fred Rector, Charles Bailey, Tony Pierce, Herbert Rainbolt, Roger Simmons, Ben Edwards and Wayne Lipp.
Rolling Thunder stays busy throughout the year, according to Chapter 4 President Jeff Kilbourn, especially during the week of Veterans Day — with the group coming off an event Wednesday where they honored veterans and police officers from the region at the Jonesborough Visitors Center.
But visiting facilities like Ivy Hall, and meeting the different veterans, also provides members a sense of joy and respect by meeting servicemen and women, Kilbourn added.
The Missing Man Ceremony is symbolic with different items having a meaning for soldiers that have served.
Symbolic image is in abundance during the events spread, with the main platform being a table. A white tablecloth symbolizes purity, a single red rose reminds individuals of life, a slice of lemon is used as a reminder for those that suffered a bitter fate of being captured and missing in a foreign land. Other items include a pinch of salt symbolizing tears by those missing their loved ones, a Bible to symbolize strength, an inverted glass to symbolize missing soldiers’ inability to share in a toast and an empty chair.
The group, who also provided an MIA flag to the facility, provided a roll call to remember those missing overseas and capped off the event with the playing of taps.