FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Those lost, but not forgotten, were recognized at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum during a ceremony honoring POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 17.
Col. James A. Muskopf, Fort Rucker garrison commander, spoke to the attending Soldiers, civilians and former prisoners of war and missing in action about the importance of remembering those who haven't come home.
"Today is a day of remembrance," he said. "Throughout our history we have stood ready against those who would try to dominate the world. Today we honor our nation's heroes who knew the hostility of war and the anguish of captivity."
Muskopf added the recovery of those still missing, living or deceased, is still a top priority of the United States.
"Much remains to be done," he said. "America owes these brave men and women our gratitude."
Some former POWs also attended Friday's ceremony and reminisced about their experiences during some darker times.
Retired Lt. Col. Tom Stovall has attended the POW/MIA recognition day ceremony each year "for decades." He is a former B-26 Marauder bombardier navigator who was shot down during World War II, six days before D-Day, the day the Allies invaded Europe.
"I went down during my 72nd mission," he said. "Most bombardiers hadn't been on that many missions. I was captured shortly after crashing. When I was rescued from the POW camps, I only weighed 95 pounds."
Stovall said having the POW/MIA ceremony here is an important event to those who have served and those who are serving in the military.
"Recognizing everyone in the military is very important," he said. "They are risking their lives every day for this country and we need to honor that."
Ken Prier, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 in Enterprise commander, also attended the event and expressed how important it is for everyone to remember those captured or missing abroad.
"Too often we lose sight of what's going on around us," he said. "The contributions that past generations have made get lost in the day-to-day business of the current generation. This ceremony isn't just fitting, it's due. There are still far too many yet that remain on distant shores that need to be accounted for and need to come home. It's ceremonies like this that keep the issue up front."
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