Gentry says missing sign 'should be a big deal to everybody'

MARION - It's been nearly two decades since 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Pickering of Marion gave the ultimate sacrifice during enemy action near Al Anbar province, Iraq.

A sign on South Market Street in Marion has stood to pay homage to his memory, until a few days ago when Williamson County Commissioner Brent Gentry was notified by the highway department that the sign was missing.

"I am not happy," said Gentry, who believes someone deliberately took the sign.

"If there was an accident there would be some other kind of damage," said Gentry, who said he had talked to local wrecker services who had no record of calls to the area.

"We don't know what happened, just that the sign is gone," said Gentry, who remains convinced the sign was stolen.

In fact, Gentry took to Facebook offering a $200 reward "out of my pocket for the arrest of this person."

Several people replied to the post, offering to add to the reward or to help fund a new sign.

"Somebody's got to talk," said Gentry. "Anybody that could lead me the right way can just email or call me."

A new sign is already being readied to go up.

"This is a big deal to me," said Gentry. "It should be a big deal to everybody."