SALEM/MT. VERNON – On Tuesday the Sutherland – Rankin Funeral Home in Salem will be escorting United States Army Sergeant Howard G. Malcolm to his final resting spot, the Bethel Memorial Cemetery on the south edge of Mt. Vernon at Illinois Route 37 and Bethel Road.
Sgt. Malcolm served during the Korean War and was reported as missing in action on December 1, 1950. It was later reported Sgt. Malcolm died in a prisoner of war camp in August of 1951.
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency disinterred 652 Korean War Veterans remains from the National Cemetery in 2018. In 2022 a set of those remains were positively identified as Sgt. Malcolm’s.
The Mt. Vernon Police Department, Mt. Vernon Fire Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson Fire Protection District will assist Sutherland – Rankin Funeral Home with the escort of Sgt. Malcolm.
The procession is expected to leave the funeral home in Salem at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, and travel south on Illinois 37 from Salem to the cemetery.
Residents are encouraged to line Route 37 to honor Sgt. Malcolm’s service to the country.
Additionally, flags will be placed along the route of the procession. Public assistance is being requested to set up and remove flags from the procession route. For more information, contact 618-409-0323.
