COMMUNITY 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 led him to bypass A&M and seek enrollment at the Air Force Academy. When his vision failed to meet the Air Force's standards, he returned to Texas and enrolled at A&M and joined the Corps of Cadets. He then joined the Marines and became an aviator.
"On the night of 27 December 1972, Ron and his pilot ...
went on a nighttime bombing mission in northern Vietnam. They never returned to base, and both were subsequently listed as missing in action," he said. Last December his crash site was excavated and his remains positively identified.
"I don't have the words to fully express what relief that notification brought to my family," Craig said. "I will say that it's the first Christmas in my lifetime that wasn't partially overshadowed by the fact we had an empty chair at our table," he added. He said his cousin, Karoni Forrester, Ron's daughter, normally would make the remarks but noted she was in Hawaii for the ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Don Forrester came forward and received a proclamation and folded flag that was flown over the Capitol. They were provided by Rep. Michael McCaul and presented by Brig.
Gen. (Ret.) Joe E.
Ramirez, A&M's vice president for student affairs. Ramirez spoke about his father's experience as a prisoner during the Korean War. Other speakers included Denise Dubois, whose father was a POW in Europe during World War II; Judge David Evans, whose father was a POW in the Pacific during World War II; Knox, who talked about the honor he felt being commissioned to do the painting; and Tyson Voelkel, president and CEO of the Texas A&M Foundation, who made the closing remarks.
After the ceremony, Don Forrester talked about what it meant to him and his family. "We were 25 when his plane went down. We are so grateful for this occasion where people pause to remember.
It means much to us," he said. "His remains were identified, and we were notified on Dec. 5 of this past year, and he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery this coming Oct.
7. We are looking forward to that day." He also complimented the artwork by Knox.
"Absolutely beautiful. Just the symbolism in the painting captures the experience of those who live with an empty chair," he said. "Absolutely beautiful.
Just the symbolism in the painting captures the experience of those who live with an empty chair." Don Forrester Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
