Roger Dale Bowman, one of Ararat’s native sons, died in 1968 while serving his country in Vietnam.

He will be posthumously honored on Saturday, July 7, in a special program that will be held in The Hollow History Center in Ararat.

Other veterans also will be honored during the program that begins at 10:30 a.m. in the center, which is located off of Doe Run Road at 36 Marigold Lane (across from Lee’s Greenery).

Bowman was killed in action in Vietnam 50 years ago, according to Shelby Inscore Puckett, who is helping to organize the event.

After Bowman’s death, his mother, Josephine Bowman, sold her house and moved into a store building that been converted into a living space, Puckett said, adding his mother moved from the rental years ago.

Upon her death, family members were unable to find Roger Dale Bowman’s medals, Puckett said.

Years later, the owner of the rental decided to sell the building, Puckett said.

As “he was cleaning whole building out, way up on a shelf, he found a box,” Puckett said. “The box had been rained on and was in bad shape, but he opened it up,” and found Roger Dale Bowman’s medals inside, including a Purple Heart and Mothers Gold Star Pin.

Roger Dale Bowman had no siblings, Puckett said, and she was asked to take the items and display them in The Hollow Center.

After talking to her husband, Puckett said the decision was made to talk to Jeff Puckett, a family member who lives in Pennsylvania but whose ancestral roots are in Patrick County.

Jeff Puckett retired with more than 35 years of government and military service and is a combat veteran of Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

A graduate of the Air War College, Jeff Puckett also is a doctoral candidate at the Pennsylvania State University, with emphasis on Post 9-11 Trans-Nationalist America.  He also is active in many veterans’ issues in Pennsylvania, including working with the Vietnam War Commemoration Committee, which recognizes veterans across the United States who served during the Vietnam period, regardless of where they were stationed.

Once he learned about Roger Dale Bowman’s sacrifice, Jeff Puckett decided to make a shadow box to both protect and display the items, Shelby Inscore Puckett said.

The idea to honor all Vietnam veterans at a ceremony in Ararat also came from those conversations, she said.

Jeff Puckett will present the shadow box commemorating Roger Dale Bowman’s sacrifice, service and valor.

Shelby Inscore Puckett said she has contacted “all I know to contact” of Roger Dale Bowman’s relatives. “They’re very pleased the medals will be on display and people will be able to honor to Roger Dale’s memory.”

The shadow box eventually will be donated to the Patrick Count y Historical Society for permanent display in the museum in Stuart.

Jeff Puckett also will present lapel pins to other veterans to recognize and show the country’s gratitude to those who served on active duty between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975.

“Any living veteran who served on active duty during that time period is encouraged to attend the event and receive a lapel pin,” Shelby Inscore Puckett said, and explained Ararat also is home to a family which had four family members in service at the same time during the Vietnam period.

“We’re hoping this will be a well attended program, and we’ll have a lot of people attend to help recognize our veterans,” Shelby Inscore Puckett said. “I think per capita, we had a lot of young men in that community who made sacrificed during that time. “I hope the community will come out and help honor those people.”

For additional information, call Raleigh or Shelby Inscore Puckett at (276) 251-5853 or email sipuckett@ls.net.