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COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS TO DEDICATE POW/MIA MEMORIAL AT PATRIOTS PARK

October 9, 2026
College of the Ozarks will dedicate its new POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., honoring American Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action. College of the Ozarks will dedicate its new POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., honoring American Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action.

College of the Ozarks will dedicate its new POW/MIA Memorial at Patriots Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m., honoring American Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action.

The ceremony will honor American Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action, but it also will tell a larger story — one about service, sacrifice, the families who have waited, and a nation's promise that those who served will not be forgotten.

Among those gathered will be Veterans who know that story firsthand.

Chaplain (Colonel) Robert Certain, U.S. Air Force, retired, was held as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam from 1972-1973. Colonel John Clark, U.S. Air Force, retired, spent nearly six years as a POW from 1967-1973. Colonel Tom Moe, U.S. Air Force, retired, was held captive in Vietnam from 1968-1973.

Clark and Moe have each participated in the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program, helping students understand American military history through relationships with those who lived it. Certain will participate in the programs upcoming trip to Vietnam in March 2027.

The Ceremony

The ceremony will open with a prelude by the College of the Ozarks Concert Band, followed by a welcome from Brigadier General James P. Schreffler, vice president of patriotic programs at College of the Ozarks and assistant adjutant general of the Missouri Army National Guard.

Chaplain (Colonel) Robert Certain will give the invocation. College of the Ozarks President Brad Johnson will provide remarks on behalf of the College. Colonel John Clark will speak on behalf of the POW community. Heather Harris, director of the Europe-Mediterranean Region for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, will provide remarks on behalf of the MIA accounting mission.

Certain and Clark will join U.S. Air Force Colonel Tom Moe, Retired, President Johnson, and Brigadier General Schreffler for the unveiling of the memorial.

The ceremony also will include the presentation of colors by College of the Ozarks Bobcat Guard Officer Leadership Development candidates, musical selections by College ensembles, the lighting of the memorial’s eternal flame, the placement of a wreath, the playing of “Taps,” and the laying of roses by student participants in the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program.

Johnson will lead the Act of Dedication, dedicating the memorial to the glory of God and in honor of America’s Prisoners of War and the nation’s continuing commitment to bring home those who remain Missing in Action.

A Commitment to Remember, Honor, Reflect

The new memorial further strengthens the College’s commitment to honoring American service members and educating future generations about the sacrifices made in defense of the nation’s freedoms.

In 2023, College of the Ozarks became the first college to receive the designation of POW/MIA Campus. The designation was bestowed by the Board of Directors of the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum. The College also flies the POW/MIA flag as a daily reminder of those who endured captivity and those who remain unaccounted for.

“Being designated a POW/MIA Campus is a powerful commitment, and this new memorial makes that commitment visible and permanent, not just a title,” said Chassidy Brittain, director of patriotic activities. “It brings the mission of remembrance onto our own campus grounds, giving students and visitors a daily place to reflect, learn, and honor those who endured captivity and those still unaccounted for.”

The memorial will serve as a permanent place within Patriots Park where students, visitors, Veterans, and members of the community can remember the sacrifices of America’s Prisoners of War and Missing in Action and reflect on the enduring message: You Are Not Forgotten.

A reception at The Keeter Center will immediately follow the dedication ceremony.