In recognition of National POW/MIA Day on Friday, an oil painting by renowned Aggie artist Benjamin Knox depicting the Missing Man Table was unveiled in a ceremony at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University. The painting was commissioned by the Wreaths Across America Brazos Valley–Gold Star Help and was unveiled by Ellen Fuller of the organization along with Knox.
Next week the painting will be hung with the rest of Knox’s Defenders of Freedom collection outside of the Veterans Resource Support Center in the MSC. The big reveal took place before a crowd of about 100 people, including relatives of service members who were prisoners of war or are missing in action. The ceremony included comments by four children of POWs.
Of particular recognition was the family of Ron Forrester, A&M Class of 1969, whose remains were found and positively identified last year, 51 years after he was declared missing in action in Vietnam. That confirmation changed his status from missing in action to killed in action and made his family a Gold Star family. Forrester’s nephew, Craig Forrester, was one of the speakers.
Also in attendance were Forrester’s twin brother, Donald Forrester, and Craig’s son, William, who is in the Class of 2027. “Son, brother, father, husband, Marine, aviator, Aggie, friend. Ron’s story is one of blatant determination and perseverance,” Craig Forrester said.
He explained that his uncle’s desire to become a pilot.