National POW / MIA Recognition Day - Lexington VA Health Care System
Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

Lexington VA Health Care System

 

National POW / MIA Recognition Day

POW Flag flying in front of the Lexington VA Medical Center.

Prisoner of War flag flies below the Stars and Stripes in front of the Lexington VA Medical Center.

By Lexington Public Affairs
Wednesday, September 2, 2015

According to Emma Metcalf, Medical Center Director, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is set aside for us to reflect on and remember the men and women who gave up their freedom to protect ours. We also remember those who remain unaccounted for, and we wish their families some small comfort in knowing that America has not forgotten them.

Throughout our history, when the enemies of freedom were on the march, brave Americans took up arms and stopped their advance. They answered their nation’s call to duty. These patriotic men and women defended our country in the hours of need and continue to stand watch for freedom. Many risked capture, imprisonment and their lives to protect our homeland – many are taking those same risks today.

More than 142,000 American service men and women were captured and interned from World War I through the Gulf War; 20,000 are alive today. At the low point of America’s fortunes during World War II, General Douglas MacArthur promised to keep faith with those Veterans he left behind as the Philippines fell to the Japanese. His famous quote, "I shall return," became one of history’s famous promises. He and the American people kept that promise October 23, 1944, with the liberation of those islands. Just as General MacArthur did not forget his troops then, we must not forget our POWs and MIAs today.

"It is important to the confidence of our service men and women currently serving around the world today that they know that we are committed to providing them with the benefits to which they are entitled by their service to our nation," said Metcalf. "On September 18, 2015, we will recognize our former POWs and remember those missing in action. Our hearts also go out to those family members who suffer from not knowing the fate of their loved one, those brave Americans who were lost while answering the call of a grateful nation. We honor your service and sacrifice."

POW/MIA Recognition Day Program
Friday
September 18, 2015
11:00 am
Leestown Division Auditorium

return to top go

Share



Get Updates

Subscribe to Receive
Email Updates

More Stories