POW/MIA Recognition Day includes tribute to WWII soldier

Service groups from around Jackson marked POW/MIA Recognition Day on Saturday with a walk from Jackson City Park to Brookside Park. The annual remembrance day honors the sacrifices that America's prisoners of war, those missing in action and their families have made.

As a special addition to the day, a local woman unveiled the results of months of research concerning the history of her father-in-law's service in the military, presenting the medals he earned to her husband.

About 50 people attended the VFW Post 10495-sponsored ceremony, which included members of several service groups.

The featured speaker was retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Adams, who spoke on the importance of veterans. "Our freedom was paid for by the sacrifices of the men and women who wore and are wearing the uniform," he said.

A special tribute to prisoners of war was also held. Honorees included Vietnam aviator Jeremiah Denton, who was shot down in the early part of the war, taken captive and forced to endure torture and deprivation at the Hanoi Hilton at the hands of the North Vietnamese. "A Geneva Convention camp it was not," he said.

The ceremony included Jackson Legion Post commander Dave Hitt introducing Staff Sgt. Jessie Seabaugh, son-in-law of Frank and Cheryl Merkler of Jackson, who will leave for a second Iraq tour in November. Hitt described service men and women of all branches as American warriors.

Seabaugh, a Jackson High School graduate, stood beside his wife Cathy, the Merklers and other family members. The Merklers received a blue banner to hang in their home, a tangible reminder while Seabaugh served in Iraq.

After Cheryl Merkler received the banner from Hitt, she took the podium.

"I would like to thank all the family and friends who are here today to share this with us," she said. "And Jessie, I would like you to know how proud we are that you will serve our country, and we're very happy to have you as our son-in-law."

She also thanked VFW Post commander Byron Fluegge, legion member Larry Koehler and Hitt for help with research and the opportunity to present her late father-in-law's medals to her husband at POW/MIA Recognition Day.

"I've been working about a year, year and a half, at retrieving the military records of Frank's father. It all seemed to come together at once," she said.

The presentation was a surprise to her husband.

Frank C. Merkler joined the U.S. Army on July 1, 1941, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1944 and was promoted again to captain in 1946. In 1947, he was relieved of duty due to physical disability.

He served in the the Philippines, one of the major military campaigns of World War II, from 1942 to 1945. For heroic achievement, Merkler, an infantry unit commander, earned a WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, American Campaign Medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster for the Purple Heart Medal.

"Mom and Dad never talked about it," Frank Merkler said. "At 10, I saw the medals on the wall and as I got older I tried to read them and never could make it through."

cpagano@semissourian.com

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