Veterans make it clear their 'brothers and sisters' are not forgotten
By JOHN FOOKS
Texarkana Gazette
The dead do not die.
Ask any loved one or family member of any service man or woman killed at war, either this year or 60 years ago and they will tell you that the love they have for them and the memories they cherish of them not only live on but are crystal clear in their minds and hearts.
So it is with American POW/MIAs. Their memories live on in their families and even among a few complete strangers.
Keeping the POW/MIA issue alive, some of those dedicated souls gathered for a vigil that began Friday afternoon and ended Saturday night.
"If you don't think it's working or that your being here today doesn't help, just remember that there were well over 2,500 American POW/MIAs just a few years ago, and today there are under 1,900," said Greg Beck, president of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
"There have been more than 700 American families who have had their loved ones returned home, thanks to your continued insistence that not one American will ever be forgotten, not as long as you are here, like you are here today."
Not as long as there are Americans like those who stood vigil beginning at 2:38 p.m. Friday afternoon until 9 p.m. last night, a total of 1,854 minutes. That's one minute for each American unaccounted for from the Vietnam War (1,822), the Korean War (counting only those whose names are engraved on the local memorial, 28), the Persian Gulf War (3) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (1).
They came for the 18th Annual POW/MIA Vigil, sponsored by the Texarkana Area Chapter No. 278, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., at the Korea/Vietnam Memorial at West Seventh and North State Line Avenue, near downtown Texarkana.
The 12th Annual Ride to Remember began at 2:40 p.m. Saturday at the Arkansas Tourist Bureau on U.S. Highway 71 North and arrived at 3 p.m. at the Memorial, where 234 balloons were released, representing the 234 POW/MIAs from the Four States area who are still missing. The 109 truck, automobile and motorcycle drivers and riders dismounted for the 3:10 Remembrance Service.
Vietnam veteran John Carmeli explained the POW table setting as Korean War POW Booker T. Johnson looked on.
Carmeli's wife, Donna, read "The Living Dead." Stacey Jones, who has adopted seven POW/MIAs during the past five years, read "The Loneliest Prayer."
Korea and Vietnam veteran Raymond Burns told one or two of the many stories he knows of American casualties and POW/MIAs that were unheard of until the American government declassified the information several years ago.
"There was one incident where an American plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan in 1953 that remained classified for many years," Burns said. "There were 90 Americans who survived, 24 who were dead and 138 classified as 'unknown.' Their names are not on any wall or memorial that I know of, and all I ask of you today is to remember them."
American POW/MIAs may still be missing or unaccounted for, their names may never be known, but "their memories will never die as long as you folks remember them," Burns said.
The candlelight and closing services were held at 9 p.m.
Carmeli summed up the feelings of everyone during the vigil when he said, "Everyone else calls them 'POWs' and 'MIAs' ... but we call them 'brothers' and 'sisters.'"
ŠTexarkana Gazette
Serving Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas