Ceremony In Framingham To Mark POW/MIA Recognition Day

FRAMINGHAM, MA — On Friday, Framingham will join veterans groups across the nation to mark POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is set aside to remember soldiers who were prisoners of war or listed as missing-in-action.

Here's more from a press release about the event:

The U.S. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. The date this year is Sept. 17. Many Americans take the time to remember those who are missing in action and still not home as well as their families.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States but it is a national observance.

Americans across our country pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW), as well as those who are still missing in action (MIA), and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing.

Veteran rallies are a part of this National Day of Recognition, and here in Framingham we will be holding the sixth annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony on Friday at the Vietnam Soldiers Statute in the MWRTA Center, 15 Blandin Ave., at 6 p.m.

There are 1,584 service members nationwide still listed as MIA. Of those, 39 are from Massachusetts. We will be honoring each of those brave men, who gave all in service to their country, and will be reading their names and lighting a candle in remembrance for those 39 from Massachusetts.

The National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag symbolizes the United States’ resolve to never forget POW/MIAs or those who served their country in conflicts and are still missing.

In capital letters on that flag are the words: “You Are Not Forgotten”. Please join us for this solemn and important event as we live up to those words.