ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW&MIA) Recognition Day ceremony was held at the Veteran’s Grove located at District 56. It was hosted by veterans organizations American Legion Posts 55 and 233, the Marine Corps League Detachment 1238 and the VFW Post 2073.    

Coffee and donuts were offered to those who arrived at 10 a.m. as they went around and talked before the ceremony started at 11 a.m. After the ceremony, a barbecue was held where attendees had more time to socialize.

Members of the veterans organizations, city council members, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen gave speeches honoring the prisoners of war and those who are missing in action. All speakers acknowledged the sacrifice every soldier has made for their country.                  

U.S. Army and Marine veteran Oscar O’Con said that the significance of POW&MIA day is really for the families.

 

Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen honors POW & MIA veterans.

He noted that there’s still a total of around 83,000 soldiers considered missing in action since World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

“It’s a way to honor veterans that we haven’t had a chance to mourn them or even bury them,” said O’Con. “It’s a big day, and as a veteran, it’s something that I cannot miss because I lost a lot of friends over there and some of them are still there, probably.”

Not only were speeches given, but symbolic displays of honor were demonstrated as well. They had the “Missing Man Table,” a gun salute and a playing of “Taps.”                

The Missing Man Table itself served to honor those who are prisoners of war, went missing in action or are a fallen service member.    

 

Items on the POW & MIA Missing Man Table represent different sacrifices that were made by service members and their loved ones.

           

It began with a set-up consisting of a small round table with a white tablecloth. Then, multiple items were placed on the table. They included a red rose in a vase, a slice of lemon and a sprinkle of salt on a bread plate, an inverted glass, a Bible, a lighted candle and an empty chair.   

Each of these items represented different sacrifices that were made by service members and their loved ones.               

After that came a gun salute that was performed by the veterans rifle squad.             

The veterans of American Legion Post 233 performed the salute showing respect to the sacrifice, duty and honor that the service members had shown to their country.           

 

The playing of “Taps” closes out the ceremony

                  

Following the gun salute, they finished off with the playing of “Taps,” a 24-note bugle call. This bugle call is not just to signify the end of the day in the military, but a tribute to fallen service members and a call for their remembrance.            

After the playing of “Taps,” those in attendance enjoyed each other’s company, conversed and waited for the barbecue to begin.