It's official -- California is a Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum's 47th POW-MIA City.
In a ceremony Friday afternoon at city hall, area veterans and city officials were on hand to celebrate the designation. Joining the group was Paul Dillon, president of Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum of St. Louis. The ceremony follows on the heels of official City of California Board of Aldermen approval at its October meeting. The board also approved designating California as a Purple Heart City.
Alderwoman Resa Dudley -- who proposed first seeking a Purple Heart designation for the city -- gave credit to City Attorney Ann Perry for encouraging her to pursue that designation and George Shelley with Moniteau County VFW Memorial Post #4345 for also suggesting she consider a POW-MIA designation. Dudley said their help truly brought the idea to fruition as a way to honor the community's veterans.
Dudley said it was a "special day" for California on Friday, and took time to recognize the veterans that were attending. She gave special recognition to veterans Bob Staton and Ron Harlan, crucial figures in the development of the new veterans memorial located at Latham Memorial Family Park.
Dudley also introduced Dillon to the group, who explained the background of Jefferson Barracks. Dillon also explained the museum's mission -- that POW-MIA veterans should not be forgotten.
"We feel that we have a really good mission, and these are stories that we need to tell," Dillon said. "I guess the lesson that they teach us is that it's not always with weapons and arms that we fight an enemy; sometimes, simply enduring is the only weapon that you have. It's a lesson that we're trying to get out there, because I think it's important that we don't forget. No matter how cruel or how ruthless an enemy is, we have and we will endure."
Dillon explained the museum's POW-MIA City program began in 2016, modeled after the Purple Heart City program. California, as the 47th city recognized through the program, joining municipalities such as Herculaneum City and Wentzville.
Dillon presented California Mayor Rich Green with a proclamation making it official. The proclamation reads, in part, that the City of California "holds in high regard the sacrifices made by all American Prisoners of War (POWs) who surrendered their freedom and endured great hardships in the defense of American liberties and values" and also "holds dear the sacrifice of all American servicemen and women who have given their lives with specific attention by this proclamation to those whose whereabouts still remain unknown." It also commends the city for displaying the POW-MIA flag, and encourages homes and businesses throughout the community to do so, as well.
"We're just giving you a proclamation for something that you already do," Dillon said. "We're just acknowledging what you have already done. You're a POW City anyway, with the support that's given to veterans. We're shining a light on what you already do."
Dillon also brought with him a copy of "N is for Never Forget," a juvenile nonfiction book detailing the hardships and sacrifices of POW-MIA American service members from A to Z. The book was donated to the Moniteau County Library.
The next steps, Dudley explained to the group Friday and again at Monday evening's Board of Aldermen meeting, will be continuing to work with the Missouri Department of Transportation to get POW-MIA City and Purple Heart City signs installed at the major entrances to California sometime in the near future.