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"It is befitting that we remind
citizens across the nation that we can never, ever forget the
contributions made by those who have served this nation notably and
who were held captive in past wars. Many of them remain traumatized
by their war experiences," said Illinois Department of Veterans'
Affairs Director Roy L. Dolgos. "We also remember the soldiers and
sailors that have yet to return."
In honor of the 208 Illinoisans who are
still unaccounted for, the U.S. and POW/MIA flags were raised, State
Commander Matt Gilmour played taps and the Interveterans Burial
Detail of Sangamon County presented a 21-gun salute.
"We echo the words with our comrades,
'You are not forgotten.' We continue to pray for the families, we
join with them and remain hopeful that one day there will be
closure," Department of Veterans' Affairs Assistant Director
Rochelle Crump said during the ceremony at the department's main
office in Springfield.
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this article]
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According to records maintained by the
Illinois Department of Military Affairs, there are tens of thousands
of American men and women from across the country who are still
missing from past wars.
"There are still 78,000 brave men and
women missing from World War II, 120 from the Cold War era, 81,000
from the Korean War, 1,800 from the Vietnam War and one from the
first Gulf war," said Lt. Col. Colonel Fletcher A. Crews, the
event's guest speaker.
Ex-POWs,
local veterans' organizations, state Sen. Larry Bomke,
R-Springfield, and state Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, also
participated in the ceremony.
[Illinois
Department of Veterans' Affairs
news release]
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