COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Camp Johnson in Colchester hosted a remembrance ceremony on Friday to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The day honors the sacrifices of Americans who spent time in enemy hands or were declared missing.
The ceremony welcomed two members from a Vermont chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War organization.
“It’s the resilience that these folks exemplify. Knowing what you’re going into and still serving. That speaks volumes to me about their character. I think we should count ourselves blessed to have had people like this in our service and to have people like I have in my Guard continuing to serve,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, the commander of the Vermont National Guard.
The ceremony also featured a wreath-laying and remembrance service with an empty table representing those still missing.
About 81,000 Americans remain unaccounted for. That includes 166 missing Vermonters from World War II, 20 from the Korean War and five from the Vietnam War.