Veterans raise the American and POW-MIA flags and lower them to halfmast for National POW

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

Veterans raise the American and POW-MIA flags and lower them to halfmast for National POW_MIA Day