A Night of Remembrance • A Mission of Hope
In Honor of America's POWs & MIAs · You Are Not Forgotten
The Empty Chair Ceremony
The empty chair set at every gala table is a living symbol — the missing warrior whose spirit joins us. Each element carries meaning carried across generations of service and sacrifice.
Empty — for those who cannot be present among us
Red — for the blood of those who gave everything
The eternal flame of hope that they will return
The bitterness of fate for those captured or missing
The tears of waiting families, still hoping
Every name on the POW/MIA Wall represents a promise — a promise that America will remember. A promise that families will not be forgotten. A promise that we will continue searching for those still missing.
The Empty Chair Gala brings together community leaders, veterans, and patriots to fund two urgent missions: the construction of the American Legion Post 247 POW/MIA Monument in Remington, Virginia, and the global search and recovery work of Project Recover.
"Until They Are Home, They Are Not Forgotten."— American Legion Post 247
Chris Perez will share powerful stories from his experiences in combat, underwater recovery missions, and the ongoing effort to bring missing American heroes home. His keynote remarks support Project Recover's mission and America's POW/MIA community — a testimony to the sacrifice and the promise that must not be broken.
Dave Kalis joins The Empty Chair Gala as a featured speaker representing the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, adding an important perspective to an evening dedicated to remembrance, accounting, recovery, and the enduring promise to bring America's missing service members home.
Your sponsorship directly funds the POW/MIA Monument and supports Project Recover's global search missions.
Contact us to discuss sponsorship, custom opportunities, or in-kind contributions.
Contact Us About SponsorshipEvery dollar raised advances the sacred commitment to those who served and those still waiting to come home.
Constructing and maintaining the American Legion Post 247 POW/MIA Monument in Remington, Virginia — a permanent tribute to those who never came home.
Supporting global expeditions to locate, identify, and repatriate missing American service members — bringing closure to families who have waited decades.
Educating future generations about the sacrifice of POWs and MIAs, and funding veteran remembrance and community outreach programs across Virginia.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
The Inn at Kelly's Ford • Remington, Virginia