|
Hundreds of people gathered over Memorial Day on the downtown
mall in Cumberland, Maryland, to pay tribute to America’s
POWs and MIAs. The Color Guard of VVA Chapter 172 performed
a Round Table ceremony in which a table is set with five
empty dinner places, symbolizing the POWs and MIAs from the
five branches of the military.
“We gather today as veterans and as a community to
pay tribute, honor, and respect for the ultimate sacrifice
they gave for the freedom we share today—those brave
men who lost their lives will not be forgotten,” said
Chip Sours, Color Guard narrator for the event and a life
member of VVA.
“This isn’t just an ordinary memorial
service,” Bob
Peck, the coordinator of the event, said. “We want
people to be more enlightened about POWs and MIAs and the
dedication of those who have kept this a free nation.” Peck,
a VVA life member, sits on the board of directors of Chapter
172.
Beginning with World War II, some 142,000 Americans have
been prisoners of war. Of those, more than 17,000 died while
in captivity. Peck said that 1,761 Americans are still missing
from the Vietnam War. Although 822 sets of remains have been
recovered, no effort is spared to identify them.
“They’re
still finding remains of soldiers from the American Revolution,
and they just found ten men in a World War II bomber that
went down in Burma. When you bring them home, it brings closure
to people’s lives,” he
said.
Chapter president and life member Roger Krueger was master
of ceremonies and life member Bill Zapt spoke about the area’s
rich military history. He reminded the crowd that several
former POWs and many modern-day heroes who fought for this
country‘s freedom live in the Cumberland area.
The POW-MIA
flag was raised between the American and Maryland state flags
where it will stand as a reminder about our country’s
missing. The ceremony concluded with “Amazing Grace” played
on bagpipes and the traditional “Taps.”
|
©2006-
2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910