JPAC TO HOST NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY CEREMONY SEPTEMBER 20 Annual event honors sacrifice, commitment made by our Nation’s heroes HONOLULU, Hawaii (Sept. 17, 2013) – The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command will honor our Nation’s heroes and commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 20, 10 a.m., at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. This year’s program will be led by Maj. Gen. Kelly McKeague, JPAC Commander. The keynote speaker, former Air Force pilot Guy Gruters, was a prisoner of war for five years during the Vietnam War. He completed more than 400 combat missions and was shot down twice during his service. He was captured after his second shoot down on Dec. 20, 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for five years. He was ultimately released as part of Operation Homecoming in 1973. Highlights this year include a wreath laying ceremony, speeches and a rendition of taps played in honor of former prisoners of war and those still missing in action. Organizations are welcome to participate in the wreath laying ceremony by laying a wreath or flowers. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Media wishing to attend the ceremony must contact Lee Tucker before noon, Sept. 19, to receive instructions; all media will be escorted. Appropriate attire for the event is military Class B or service equivalent, or civilian casual or Aloha wear. The ultimate goal of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, and of the agencies involved in returning America’s heroes home, is to conduct global search, recovery and laboratory operations in order to support the Department of Defense’s personnel accounting efforts. "Until They Are Home"
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 13:24:19 +0000
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