Office of Public Relations: For more information, contact: Stephen E. Snyder
(229) 931-2028 (229) 931-2037 ssnyder@canes.gsw.edu
(229) 931-2072 fax
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Sept. 2, 2009
GSW, Andersonville host 4th annual POW/MIA
Recognition Day Convocation Sept. 16
AMERICUS—Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day is Thursday, Sept. 17. In honor of that day, the Andersonville National Historic Site, location of the National Prisoner of War Museum, and Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) are hosting the 2009 National POW/MIA Convocation Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. in Georgia Southwestern’s Student Success Center.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend this free event.
This year’s guest speaker is retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel J. Stamaris, Jr. Stamaris was a POW during Operation Desert Storm. He was the crew chief of a Blackhawk helicopter carrying seven other crew members who were on a search and rescue mission when their helicopter was shot down over Kuwait by enemy forces on Feb. 27, 1991.
Only three crew members survived the crash: Major Rhonda Cornum, Sergeant Troy Dunlap and Stamaris. Stamaris suffered a broken left leg, left foot, pelvis and shattered his knee from the crash. All three surviving crew members were captured and held as prisoners of war until their release on March 6, 1991.
This is the fourth year that the Andersonville National Historic Site and Georgia Southwestern have hosted this event. Governor Sonny Perdue has issued a proclamation celebrating POW/MIA Recognition Day 2009.
Editor’s Note:
Georgia Southwestern State University, Stephen Snyder, (229) 931-2037, ssnyder@gsw.edu.
The National Park Service, Brad Bennett, superintendent, Andersonville National Historic Site, (229) 924-0343, Brad_Bennett@nps.gov.
- GSW -