Remembering those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the U.S. will be the theme at the Memorial Day program at the Effingham County Veterans Park in Springfield. The program will be Memorial Day at 6 p.m.

The feature of the program will be a presentation remembering those who never came back but their fate is unknown, the POWs and MIAs.

“Dying for freedom isn’t the worst that could happen … being forgotten is,” is the theme of the presentation. Calling the names of those from Effingham who gave their lives in the service of the nation will be a part of the program. All family members of these heroes are encouraged to attend the program so that they may be recognized.

While Effingham has only one Air Force officer lost in Korea whose final fate is unknown, Fred Brinson Rountree, it brings to attention that there are a number who are part of these whose final fate is unknown in our nation.

There are stones embedded in the park plaza for the 59 men who gave their life beginning with the Revolutionary War through Operation Enduring Freedom. There are over 3,800 names on the panels of all who served during this time. Names are added approximately every two years. The latest update was prior to the Veterans Day program in 2010.

Supporting the program will be the ECHS Air Force JROTC in posting the colors and reading the names. The Effingham Community Orchestra will provide music for the event.