Group sets up Prisoner of War memorial in Madison Co. Courthouse

JACKSON, Tenn. — A new flag waves outside the Madison County courthouse after Rolling Thunder Inc. Chapter 6 out of Martin rides into town for a special dedication.

“We went into the Mayor’s Office and sat down, and it was basically, ‘When can you put it in?'” said Jimmy Phelps, a Desert Storm Navy veteran.

Phelps’ mission is to get as many of these chairs in government buildings as possible, honoring more than 90,000 soldiers who have never made it home.

“They never got buried. Their families never had closure, and what Rolling Thunder wants to do is bring as many of those people back to the United States,” Phelps said.

The group’s honor guard also held a missing man table ceremony. “Set for six, the empty places represent Americans still missing from each of our five services,” Phelps said.

With empty chairs and empty glasses, even members of the guard say the demonstration is heart-wrenching. “I’ve got friends I know are still missing in action and will probably never have closure because we won’t ever be able to find their bodies or remains,” said Led Simms, a member of the honor guard.

Each year, Rolling Thunder sets a goal to create awareness for veterans who have passed and who are still living.