More than 83,000 Americans are still unaccounted for
The Columbian
Published: September 21, 2013, 5:00pm
Share:
Photos by Ted S. Warren/Associated Press
Darrell Pilat of VFW Post 1263 in Renton reaches for a candle at the Washington POW-MIA memorial as he conducts a ceremony, Friday in Olympia to honor people who have been prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.
Olympia — About 75 people attended a solemn service Friday morning on the Capitol Campus in Olympia to honor prisoners of war and American service members who are missing in action.
Every year, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is on the third Friday of September. Mary Videen, 54, of SeaTac said she wishes it were a federally recognized holiday, such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, so that schools and businesses could be closed to honor affected service members and their families.
Videen is a member of the Washington State POW/MIA Concerned Citizens. She rode buses for several hours to attend the ceremony.
“This is my annual pilgrimage down to Olympia,” she said. “I like coming down here to support the POWs and their families.”
There are more than 83,000 Americans who are still unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Every year, search and recovery efforts and advances in identifying remains with DNA testing help bring those numbers down.
“We have two Vietnam veterans who were brought home this year,” said Colleen Gilbert, with the state Department of Veterans Affairs. “We only have 41 Vietnam veterans who have not come home.”
The recovered MIAs were Marines Pfc. Daniel A. Benedett of Seattle, whose crew was shot down off the coast of Cambodia in 1975, and Air Force Maj. Larry James Hanley of Walla Walla, who was shot down over Laos in 1969.
Both were buried with military honors earlier this year.
A large POW/MIA flag is displayed during a ceremony at Washington state's POW-MIA memorial, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Olympia, Wash. The event honored people who have been prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. The Olympia event was one of many held nationally. The flag used to fly at the Kingdome in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Photo
Bob Logan, left, of Rainier hugs Allen Arthur at the Washington State Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Olympia after a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony Friday. Both men, members of the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club, served in the military during the Vietnam War.
Photo
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
