Rivera, left, and
Molinaro, center, with veterans and their families
FISHKILL – There is one chair at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill that will be forever unoccupied. It is the new POW/MIA Chair at the facility.
It was dedicated Friday night as a perpetual reminder of American prisoners of war and those missing in action may never return.
“We must never forget our brothers and sisters who fought so bravely overseas to secure our liberty, but have not returned home,” said County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “This Chair of Honor will serve as a constant reminder to all who visit this Dutchess County park that those brave men and women are not forgotten and will forever live on in our hearts and minds.”
Molinaro said the county honors “all veterans who risked their lives to protect ours – whether they have returned from battle or not – and we thank them all for their sacrifice.”
County Director of Veterans Affairs Nelson Eddy Rivera said the chair “is emblematic of the sacrifice every veteran has made to this country overseas, though sadly, not all have come back.” He said while those “courageous servicemen and servicewomen who have yet to return might not be with us now, but their spirit will always live on at Dutchess Stadium through this Chair of Honor.”
The Chair of Honor is among those donated by the Rolling Thunder veteran’s group.
