The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office recently became the recipient of a poignant symbol to honor American service members never returned from duty. In a ceremony held on April 24, Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2 bestowed upon the department a “Chair of Honor,” reports the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. The chair is a memorial to over 80,000 U.S. servicemen and women designated as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.
During the event, which included testimonies by Sheriff Tadelman, Chapter 2 President Ted Makarewicz, and other dignitaries, they reflected on the chair's deep meaning and its role in commemorating those who have yet to come home. Ensconced near the courthouse's West Entrance staircase, this Chair of Honor, flanked by an American flag and a POW/MIA flag, serves as a steadfast reminder of their sacrifices, the chair is also inscribed with a plaque explaining its purpose and the backstory of its inception, born out of a collaboration between National Rolling Thunder and the Hussey Seating Company, the site was chosen for its steadfast commitment to honoring military personnel.
A permanent fixture, the chair will be intentionally kept vacant, symbolizing the awaiting return of the missing soldiers; the emptiness serves to remind visitors and staff alike of the incalculable loss felt by families and comrades. “We are deeply honored to receive the POW/MIA Chair of Honor from Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2," said Sheriff Tadelman, in a statement that emphasizes the gravity of the gesture, “This powerful symbol serves as a lasting reminder of the brave men and women who have yet to return home,” the Sheriff's office conveyed in gratitude to Rolling Thunder’s resolve to keep the memories of the lost alive.
