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Merck Sharp & Dohme Federal Credit Union unveiled a POW/MIA National Chair of Honor on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. A dedication ceremony was held outside the Collegeville branch, it was attended by local veterans, area legislators, members of Rolling Thunder, community members, and Credit Union board members and employees. The National Chair of Honor is an empty chair cordoned off by a velvet rope and flanked by the American and POW/MIA flags. A chair sits empty with inscription declaring “You Are Not Forgotten. Since World war II more than 82,000 soldiers are unaccounted for.” The unoccupied seat is a visual reminder of the sacrifices made by those serving this country. The dedication ceremony began with an invocation led by Pastor Gabriel Mejias, followed by a few words from Merck Sharp & Dohme CEO, Dave Whitehead. After, local and state dignitaries including, Collegeville Mayor, Aidsand Wright-Riggins, State Representative Thomas J. Quigley, Senator Bob Mensch, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale, Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. and Mr. Christopher Cook, Merck & Co., Inc., Military Veteran Recruiter, each spoke about what this remembrance meant to them personally and to the families of those affected by the loss of military veterans of this country. After the unveiling, Mr. Patrick J. Hughes, a Rolling Thunder Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, who brought the National Chair of Honor program to the Credit Union’s attention emphasized the importance of remembering and that each veteran has earned the right to come home. MSDFCU is honored to be the first credit union in the U.S. to install “One Empty Seat” the POW/MIA National Chair of Honor. The chair was previously displayed in Lansdale and will travel to be displayed at other Merck Sharp & Dohme branches, including West Point, Chalfont, and Harleysville. About Merck Sharp & Dohme Based in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, Merck Sharp & Dohme FCU is a non-profit financial institution offering a full line of financial services and products. MSDFCU serves approximately 28,450 members through its six branches located throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.msdfcu.org. About Rolling Thunder Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c) (4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. are veterans and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for the Prisoners Of War-Missing In Action (POW/MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.” Photo Caption: (Left to right): Christopher Cook, Merck & Co., Inc., Military Veteran Recruiter; State Representative Thomas J. Quigley; Collegeville Mayor, Aidsand Wright-Riggins; Senator Bob Mensch; Domenic DiPillo, VP Marketing MSDFCU; Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr.; Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale
Merck Sharp & Dohme Federal Credit Union unveiled a POW/MIA National Chair of Honor on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. A dedication ceremony was held outside the Collegeville branch, it was attended by local veterans, area legislators, members of Rolling Thunder, community members, and Credit Union board members and employees.
The National Chair of Honor is an empty chair cordoned off by a velvet rope and flanked by the American and POW/MIA flags. A chair sits empty with inscription declaring “You Are Not Forgotten. Since World war II more than 82,000 soldiers are unaccounted for.” The unoccupied seat is a visual reminder of the sacrifices made by those serving this country.
The dedication ceremony began with an invocation led by Pastor Gabriel Mejias, followed by a few words from Merck Sharp & Dohme CEO, Dave Whitehead. After, local and state dignitaries including, Collegeville Mayor, Aidsand Wright-Riggins, State Representative Thomas J. Quigley, Senator Bob Mensch, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale, Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. and Mr. Christopher Cook, Merck & Co., Inc., Military Veteran Recruiter, each spoke about what this remembrance meant to them personally and to the families of those affected by the loss of military veterans of this country.
After the unveiling, Mr. Patrick J. Hughes, a Rolling Thunder Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, who brought the National Chair of Honor program to the Credit Union’s attention emphasized the importance of remembering and that each veteran has earned the right to come home.
MSDFCU is honored to be the first credit union in the U.S. to install “One Empty Seat” the POW/MIA National Chair of Honor. The chair was previously displayed in Lansdale and will travel to be displayed at other Merck Sharp & Dohme branches, including West Point, Chalfont, and Harleysville.
About Merck Sharp & Dohme Based in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, Merck Sharp & Dohme FCU is a non-profit financial institution offering a full line of financial services and products. MSDFCU serves approximately 28,450 members through its six branches located throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.msdfcu.org.
About Rolling Thunder Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c) (4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. are veterans and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder®, Inc. members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for the Prisoners Of War-Missing In Action (POW/MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.” Photo Caption: (Left to right):
Christopher Cook, Merck & Co., Inc., Military Veteran Recruiter; State Representative Thomas J. Quigley; Collegeville Mayor, Aidsand Wright-Riggins; Senator Bob Mensch; Domenic DiPillo, VP Marketing MSDFCU; Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr.; Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale