NSDAR honors Missing Man and Col. Pole McPhetridge

REMEMBER AND HONOR: HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

by Brenda Cunningham and Kathy Hagler

Members of the James K. Polk Chapter, NSDAR, participated in two separate events during the month of May, to celebrate Memorial Day.

The first was Saturday, May 13, at the Old Dallas Cemetery. With the permission of the Old Dallas Cemetery Association, nine members of JKP and six guests, placed flags on veterans’ graves. These veterans fought during the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

It was through the dedicated work of Shirly Manning and the Polk County Genealogical Society that lead the DAR to this cemetery and the eventual “adoption” of the cemetery for honoring our veterans.

While there, the members were “introduced” to Civil War veteran, Napoleon Bonaparte ‘Pole’ McPhetridge. He was born on Oct. 22, 1847, in Tazewell County, Virginia. Pole was the oldest of five children and received a good education.

At the age of 15, Pole left school and joined the Confederacy, contrary to the views of his father, who favored the Union.

Pole was wounded four times, one of which crippled him for life. He took part in many battles and was held captive as a prisoner of war in various locations, catching smallpox at one location. Some records list Pole as Col. Pole McPhetridge, but it’s not certain if this was his rank or a nickname, as he was only 18 years old by this time.

Publications of the time state that Pole was one of the leading citizens of the Dallas community. Having passed the bar in 1875, he built up a rather large practice and was considered one of the foremost criminal lawyers of Western Arkansas.

In 1888, he was elected to the senate from the 22nd District and served with distinction for four years.

Col. Pole McPhetridge died on Nov. 16, 1928, at the age of 81.

On May 28, JKP members participated in setting up the “Missing Man Tables ” in seven local restaurants.

The “Missing Man Table” pays tribute to those service members who did not return from their tour of duty.

Each table is covered with a white table cloth, to symbolize the pure intentions of service members who responded to the country’s call to arms; a single red rose in a vase symbolizes the blood that service members shed in sacrifice to freedom; the yellow ribbon tied to the vase symbolizes remembrance of those not there; salt sprinkled on the plate symbolizes the tears shed by family and loved ones; the inverted glass represents the fact that the missing and fallen cannot partake; the empty chair represents the absence of the missing and fallen; and the Bible and flag represent duty to God and country.

One of this year’s tables has a very special flag. The burial presentation flag of an unknown soldier was rescued from a dumpster by the employees of the Polk County Developmental Center in 2018. It was donated to the James K. Polk Chapter, NSDAR, and proudly used in the Missing Man Table at La Villa Mexican restaurant. They, along with Little Italy, Chicollos, The Branding Iron, The Chopping Block, New China and Papa’s Mexican Cafe, have graciously allowed these tables to be placed in prominent areas of their businesses, where the public may see them.

Please take the time to thank them for this service.

[Eds. Flags can be properly disposed at the box located on Mena Street in the marked box at the edge of the Polk County Court House and Polk County Sheriff’s Department.]