National POW MIA Day

The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. The date this year is Friday, September 17th. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), 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, as well as those who are still missing in action, 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 annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony on Friday, September 17th at our Vietnam Soldiers Statue at 6pm.  The address for this event is 15 Blandin Ave, Framingham at the MWRTA Station. Our Veterans Council will there as well as Nam Veteran Ed Carr.

There are 1,594 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 POWs 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.

The list of men still not home yet.:

BAXTER, BRUCE RAYMOND Laos E8 1967/11/09 LOWELL, MA

USAF BB BERESIK, EUGENE PAUL N. Vietnam O4 1968/05/31 WEBSTER, MA

USMC BB BERUBE, KENNETH ALLEN S. Vietnam O2 1967/08/11 MONSON, MA

USN BB BOLES, WARREN WILLIAM N. Vietnam O2 1968/01/18 MARBLEHEAD NECK,

SA XX BOTT, RUSSELL PETER Laos E6 1966/12/02 WORCHESTER, MA

USA XX COCHRANE, DEVERTON C Cambodia E6 1970/06/17 BROOKLINE, MA

USN XX DUNN, JOSEPH PATRICK China O2 1968/02/14 HULL, MA

USN BB EARLE, JOHN STILES S. Vietnam O3 1970/06/22 WESTFIELD, MA

USN XX FRAWLEY, WILLIAM D N. Vietnam O3 1966/03/01 BROCKTON, MA

USMC BB  GAUGHAN, ROGER CONRAD S. Vietnam E4 1967/05/01 BELCHERTOWN,

USN BB  GRAVES, RICHARD CAMPBELL N. Vietnam O1 1967/05/25 SUNDERLAND,

USN BB GREENLEAF, JOSEPH G S. Vietnam O3 1972/04/14 WEST NEWTON, MA

CIVILIAN KK GRZYB, ROBERT H Cambodia 1967/12/10 MA

USA BB HARPER, RICHARD K S. Vietnam W1 1965/05/19 BURLINGTON, MA

USAF XX HAUER, ROBERT D S. Vietnam O2 1970/09/05 BROOKLINE, MA

USA XX HENN, JOHN ROBERT JR S. Vietnam W2 1972/05/24 SUTTON, MA

USN XX HERRIN, HENRY HOWARD JR N. Vietnam E6 1968/01/01 WEST SPRINGFIELD

USAF XX HOLMES, DAVID HUGH Laos O3 1966/03/15BELMONT, MA

USA BB KELLEY, DANIEL MARTIN S. Vietnam E4 1968/04/25 DORCHESTER, MA

USAF XX KERR, EVERETT O Laos O3 1966/06/13 BELMONT, MA

USA BB KING, PAUL CHESTER JR Laos E3 1968/05/04 WALTHAM, MA

USA BB KINSMAN, GERALD FRANCIS S. Vietnam O2 1971/01/15 FOXBORO, MA

USN XX KUSTIGIAN, MICHAEL J S. Vietnam E2 1968/05/05 WORCHESTER, MA

USN BB LEAVER, JOHN MURRAY JR N. Vietnam O5 1972/05/08 ARLINGTON, MA

USAF XX MACCANN, HENRY ELMER N. Vietnam O4 1968/03/28 MARBLEHEAD, MA

USAF XX MAGNUSSON, JAMES A JR N. Vietnam O3 1965/04/04 NAHANT, MA

USAF XX MCLAUGHLIN, ARTHUR V JR N. Vietnam E7 1972/12/20 ROXBURY, MA

USN BB MILLER, CARLETON PIERCE JR N. Vietnam O2 1971/01/06 MELROSE, MA

USMC XX MORIN, RICHARD G Laos O2 1968/12/20 TWEKSBURY, MA

USMC XX MULLEN, WILLIAM FRANCIS Laos O3 1966/04/29 BROCKTON, MA

USAF XX OVERLOCK, JOHN F N. Vietnam O4 1968/08/16 SPRINGFIELD, MA

USN BB PAINTER, JOHN ROBERT JR N. Vietnam O3 1971/06/18 VINEYARD HAVEN

USMC BB ROGERS, EDWARD FRANCIS S. Vietnam E2 1968/03/12 ROSLINDALE, MA

USN BB SANSONE, JAMES J N. Vietnam E3 1972/08/10 NORWOOD, MA

USA K SMITH, WILLIAM M S. Vietnam E3 1969/03/03 MIDDLEBORO, MA

USN BB SULLIVAN, MARTIN JOSEPH N. Vietnam O4 1967/02/12 LAWRENCE, MA

USMC BB TODD, ROBERT JACY S. Vietnam E1 1967/05/09 NORTH EASTON, MA

USA KK WALKER, ORIEN J S. Vietnam O3 1965/05/23 BOSTON, MA

USMC BB WEITZ, MONEK S. Vietnam E1 1969/05/25 ROXBURY, MA