National POW/MIA Recognition Day was observed in ceremonies Friday night at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans in downtown Columbus.
The event was an opportunity for community members to honor and remember those who gave everything for Americans’ freedom.
Retired Army Chaplain Col. Charles McDaniel Jr. shared his family’s story of the return home of his father after 68 years. Army Master Sgt. Charles H. McDaniel Sr., Vernon, was declared missing in action in Korea on Nov. 2, 1950. His remains were turned over to the U.S. government on July 27, 2018.
More than 82,000 military personnel are still unaccounted for since World War II, said event coordinator Bob Miller. They also have family and friends still waiting for their return, he said.
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“Remembering will help ensure that the search for those still missing in action will continue,” Miller said. “One day, another family will find closure and another soldier will come home to rest beside those they loved.
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For more photos of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day, visit therepublic.com.
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