Dubois DAR Seeks Relatives of Six WWII MIAs for Statewide Memorial
The Dubois County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is working to identify relatives of six World War II service members from Dubois County so they can be honored with personalized bricks near Indianapolis’ Soldiers and Sailors Monument. A public dedication for the statewide “Enduring Promise” project is scheduled for September 2, 2026; residents with information are asked to contact Paula Book at 812-639-3036.
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The Dubois County DAR has launched a local effort to locate family members of six Dubois County residents who remain missing in action from World War II, with the goal of honoring them through a statewide memorial initiative. Personalized bricks bearing their names will be placed near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis as part of the “Enduring Promise” project. The public dedication is set for September 2, 2026.
The six service members identified by the local chapter are Max E. Dillard, Thomas J. Mazura, William C. Menke, Leroy U. Dischinger, Oscar H. Schnaus, and Silas P. Rasche. The Dubois County DAR is asking anyone with information about their relatives to reach out to Paula Book at 812-639-3036 so families may be notified and included in the ceremony.
Memorial projects like Enduring Promise carry significance beyond ceremonial recognition. For families and communities, formal acknowledgment of missing service members can offer a measure of closure and a public place to grieve and remember. For Dubois County, a largely rural community with deep multi‑generational ties to military service, the dedication is likely to draw relatives, neighbors, veterans groups, and school groups who study local history.
Public health professionals and community organizations often point to the connection between unresolved loss and long-term emotional distress. Community memorials and remembrance events can play a role in collective healing, complementing clinical supports provided by local health services and veteran assistance programs. The upcoming dedication offers an opportunity for county health agencies, mental health providers, and veteran outreach organizations to coordinate support for family members who may attend and need services related to grief and trauma.
The project also highlights broader policy and equity issues tied to the accounting for missing service members. Nationwide initiatives that seek to identify and commemorate MIAs underscore ongoing responsibilities of federal and local agencies to document service and to ensure families receive information and recognition regardless of socioeconomic or geographic barriers. In Dubois County, making contact with relatives and enabling their participation raises questions about access: whether families have the means to travel to Indianapolis for the dedication, and whether public agencies will provide information or logistical support.
Organizers in Dubois County are asking residents with any knowledge of relatives connected to the six names to come forward. Identifying and notifying next of kin will allow families to be included in the September 2026 ceremony and to receive the personalized memorial bricks that mark a visible, enduring tribute to service and sacrifice. For information or to provide leads, people should contact Paula Book at 812-639-3036.
