POW/MIA Memorial 'Chair of Honor' In Asbury Park

ASBURY PARK – The City of Asbury Park and Rolling Thunder, Inc. National dedicated a POW/MIA “Chair of Honor” at a public ceremony on Saturday, September 28, 2019 in the Council Chambers located at 1 Municipal Plaza.

The chair was dedicated in memory of SSGT Walter Cichon (Vietnam, March 30, 1968) and LCPL Theotis Collins (Vietnam, August 19, 1968), both from the Asbury Park area.

“The memorial “Chair of Honor” is dedicated to the soldier who has given the ultimate sacrifice—held Prisoner of War, or listed as Missing in Action whose remains have not been returned,” said Elaine Martin, National Secretary of the POW/MIA Chair of Honor Committee for Rolling Thunder, “The perpetual empty 'chair' symbolizes that they are not forgotten – and that we will always hold a place for them in our hearts. Since WWII more than 82,000 service members are unaccounted for; 1,597 are from the Vietnam War of which 40 are from New Jersey, including SSGT Walter Cichon and LCPL Theotis Collins both from the Asbury Park area.”

“Our POW/MIA Veterans deserve to be honored and Asbury Park is proud to be the home of the “Chair of Honor” memorial,” said Mayor John Moor, “LCPL Theotis Collins attended Asbury Park High School and belonged to the French club, ran track, and played football and baseball. SSGT Walter Cichon, who led local rock band The Motifs, served as inspiration to Bruce Springsteen for his song, 'The Wall' – there’s a bench dedicated in his honor on our boardwalk. We can’t thank Rolling Thunder enough for shining the spotlight on these heroes.”