31st Annual POW Ceremony

Following a 24 hour vigil at the Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens by the VVA 154 Color Guard, a ceremony to honor those Michigan veterans who have not returned from service overseas was capped by a speparate event:  the 31sr Annual POW/MIA Recognition Day, capped by the release of commemorative balloons, one for each of the men and women named by Pat Daniels in his classic, booming baritone. 

Daniels is president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 154, and one of the more eloquent spokesmen to appear in Our Vietnam Generation, set to air in January on WTVS, Detroit Public Television.

The 31st annual Prisoner of War Committee of Michigan’s annual ceremony began at 6:30 PM, and  included moving and inspiring words by a number of guest speakers.
The prevailing theme was, ‘You are not forgotten’, closely followed by the simple, poignant and eternal message;  ‘Michigan Remembers.’ 

“Since 1996, when DNA identification came into play, so many cases have been solved that never would have had a chance otherwise. Because of DNA identification, our case was resolved. Without it, we would still be waiting, not knowing,” was a statement made by Debbie Piepsney, whose uncle, Roland Pineau, was repatriated and buried in the United States 40 years and one day from the time he was reported as missing in action on Oct. 8, 1967, in Vietnam.

As listed by the U.S. Department of Defense, there are  1,711 Americans as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Some remains have been identified and are awaiting family notification by the Service Casualty Offices.

 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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