HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A special dedication was held at the Reno County Veterans Memorial in South Hutchinson Thursday night.

A special lamp was lit at the memorial to honor those missing in action. It will always burn to remember those who never came home from the field of battle.

Mac McGaughey of the American Legion says it all started with his wife and an idea to raise money selling a very special T-shirt. The RED shirts, as they are called, stand for “Remember Everyone Deployed.” “My wife designed, produced and sold almost $4,000 worth of shirts,” McGaughey said. “That money was to go to the American Legion Post Auxiliary with an earmark for this lamp. The lamp we’re dedicating tonight is to go with the wall.”

McGaughey feels the lamp carries one of the more important messages on the memorial. “We put this up in hopes this flame will shine on its POW wall and remind people of the lost souls that are still out there someplace and keep them in our hearts and prayers,” McGaughey said. “We have a tendency to forget and this nation has always said we’ll never forget and sometimes we still do.”

McGaughey says 1,095 soldiers are still missing from Kansas from World War II, 100 soldiers are missing from the Korean War and 24 veterans from Vietnam.

The memorial is still raising funds for the third and final phase of the memorial. That phase will fund the plaques that will carry the names of more than 15,000 Reno County veterans.