Concrete truck honors POW-MIAs

Tony Scott, an American Legion member of Post 1977 in New Lenox, Ill., realized the great opportunity his employer had to prominently display honor to U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) and those still missing in action (MIA). With approval from his boss at Prairie Material — a provider of performance concrete, ready mix and aggregate construction materials — Scott had POW-MIA and Support Our Troops decals placed on one of the company’s concrete mixer trucks.

"Being a (Vietnam) veteran and an American Legion member, and working for a company that supports past and present military personnel, is an honor to me and all who benefit from it," Scott said.

The POW-MIA truck is driven daily by a Vietnam veteran, and two other concrete mixer trucks are currently being prepped for the same POW-MIA treatment. The truck also travels to military events and Legion posts, and it was recently the lead vehicle during Prairie Material’s fourth annual Run for the Vets motorcycle ride.

The 50-mile motorcycle ride featured 265 riders, including Legion Riders, traveling from Prairie Material headquarters to the Manteno (Ill.) Veterans Home. The riders received monetary and toiletry donations along the route, bringing their total donations in four years to more than $17,000 for the Manteno Veterans Home.

Additionally, the truck was the lead vehicle during the recent 10th annual Motorcycle Freedom Run in Illinois, which features tens of thousands of riders who raise money for the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Ill. Scott said having the POW/MIA truck at the event was an honor, especially when a Black Hawk pilot, who was severely wounded when the helicopter was shot down in 2010, asked if he could have his picture taken with the truck. The pilot was one of two who survived out of a crew of seven. "That is what this (POW-MIA truck) is all about," Scott said.