On Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, National POW/MIA Day, members of veterans organizations from throughout Grant County gathered in front of the Grant County Veterans' Memorial Business and Conference Center to raise the Amercian Flag and the POW/MIA flag to the top of the pole and back down to half mast in honor of those still prisoners of war or missing in action.
Lorain Anglin led the audience in the singing of the National Anthem after the Pledge of Allegiance. She also led the group at the end of the ceremony in the singng of God Bless America. James Knight Jr., American Legion Post 18 chaplain gave the invocation. Gov. Susana Martinez's proclamation was read by Connie Zawacki of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 18. John Sterle recited the numbers of POWs and MIAs. A total of 83,343 continue to be missing in action, including 73,671 from World War II, 7,906 from the Korean War (including 46 from New Mexico, 126 from the Cold War, 1,644 from the Vietnam Wat (including 12 from New Mexico, and six from the Gulf Wars.
A table for one was set to symbolize those missing in action and unable to participate with those gathere
The Veteran Organizations represented at the ceremony were:
American Legion Post 18
American Legion Riders, Chapter 13
American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 18
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 1
Gaffney-Oglesby Marine Corps League No. 1328
Silver/Bayard Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3347
Ladies Auxiliary to the Silver/Bayard Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 3347
Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Raising POW-MIA flag
Raising POW-MIA flag
Preparing for the raising of the POW-MIA flag in front of the Grant County Veterans' Memorial Business and Conference Center
Raising POW-MIA flag
Richard "Cos" Erwin plays the bugle for the ceremony
Raising POW-MIA flag
Frank Donohue and Marc MacDonald of the Marine Corps League Gaffney-Oglesby Detachment 1328 prepare to raise the American flag as J.D. Sherwood, at right, holds the POW-MIA flag.
Raising POW-MIA flag
The American flag on its way up.
Raising POW-MIA flag
Lorain Anglin leads The Star-Spangled Banner
Raising POW-MIA flag
The POW-MIA flag is added
Raising POW-MIA flag
The American Flag and POW-MIA flag at the top of the pole.
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The flags lowered ato halfmast in honor of National POW-MIA Day on Sept. 20
Raising POW-MIA flag
John Sterle of the American Legion Post 18 reads the numbers of POW-MIA in every war since World War II, which number 83,343.
Raising POW-MIA flag
John Hoagland arranges the items as the table, which symbolize those missing in action.
Raising POW-MIA flag
Shane Gabbert gives the benediction
Raising POW-MIA flag
The American Legion Riders line up in front of the flags blowing in the breeze.