The chair and plaque are located in the concourse near Gate 16.
Stadium Chair Will Honor POW-MIA Soldiers
Saturday, September 3, 2016 | Football, Chris Harry
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UF's arm of Collegiate Veterans Society got the symbolic seat placed.
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It's a tribute, a cause that has been done in several stadiums around the country.
"It's great that it's finally getting done here," Randall Martin said.
Martin, 32, is a veteran of the U.S. Marines. He did three tours of Iraq. He's now a UF student, but also has been a point player in the University of Florida's Collegiate Veterans Society's endeavor of putting a "Chair of Honor" in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to honor POW and MIA soldiers. His work and that of his colleagues at CVS officially will come to fruition this weekend when a seat in the stadium concourse near Gate 16 — located in the southeast lower bowl — will be dedicated in their memory when UF opens its 2016 season Saturday night against Massachusetts.
And there it will stay, marked by a plaque with the following inscription:
This chair remains unoccupied to symbolize that those still listed as Prisoner of War or Missing in Action will always have a seat awaiting them at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field when they return home.
It's a tribute the likes of which has been done in an estimated 200 ballparks by franchises in various sports, all at the behest of CVS, an organization dedicated to helping fellow veterans in the transformation from military to college life by enriching communities and campuses with veteran-sponsored and patriotic events.
One such chair sits at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The New England Patriots did the same at Gillette Stadium.
Now, the Gators are doing their part.
As part of Saturday's dedication, the family of Cmrd. Randolph Wright Ford will be recognized. Ford, who lived in Gainesville and attended UF in 1954-55, was commissioned as a Naval officer, earned his Wings of Gold and was attached to Attack Squadron 86 on aircraft carrier USS America during the Vietnam War.
Cmrd. Randolph Wright Ford
In the early morning hours of June 11, 1968, Ford was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam. After nearly losing a Navy rescue helicopter to enemy fire, Ford did not want to put any more of his fellow soldiers at risk and called off the efforts to rescue him. He was captured and died of his wounds several days later. Ford was 32 years old. His remains were not repatriated to American soil until Aug. 14, 1985.
Now buried at St. Augustine National Cemetery, Ford is survived by his wife, Emma Frances, three children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Several members of his family will be present for the dedication Saturday, as well as some who served alongside Ford in fellow Squadron 86.
Saturday will be a day to honor and remember Ford.
Others will follow.
"It's important to realize there are people who are always serving somewhere. Americans are always fighting for freedom and not all of them come home," Martin said. "It'll be great to know that this this symbol will be there for them. Hopefully, younger generations will take the time to walk by and give it even just a few seconds of thought."
