POW-MIA remembrance set

Published 9:59 am Wednesday, August 30, 2017

VFW Post 8902, of Keysville, will host a POW-MIA Day on the Charlotte County Administration Building’s lawn Sept. 15.

“This day is to remember those prisoners of war and also for those missing in action so that we as a nation never forget them for their sacrifices and hopefully they will be returned home one day,” said Quartermaster Garland Hamlett Jr.

According to the Department of Defense, POW-MIA day is typically held on the third Friday of each September to support Americans who serve and remember those who never returned from war or while in action.

Figures from the agency estimate over 83,000 Americans who fought in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and six different conflicts since 1991 are still missing.

A special black and white flag with the image of a silhouette, barbed wire and a watchtower represents the POW/MIA flag, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War, developed the idea for a national flag to remind every American of the U.S. service members whose fates were never accounted for during the war,” according to the U.S. Department Department of Veterans Affairs.

Hamlett said the guest speaker for the event will be retired U.S. Air Force Col. Greg Eanes.

“Greg taught history at R-HHS (Randolph-Henry High School) before Sept. 11 and like me, was recalled to active duty.”

Eanes, along with serving as the mayor of Crewe, is a visiting lecturer for the college’s Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest.

According to Eanes’ biography, he is a retired intelligence officer with over 34 years experience supporting operations in the Cold War, the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Desert Shield/Storm and post 9/11 operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event will be held at 11 a.m.