Veterans of the Atmore VFW Post 7016 and the American Legion Post 90 gathered along the intersection of Nashville Avenue and Main Street Friday morning to honor their fallen brothers as a part of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

“We can never leave a comrade behind,” said Joseph Walker, Web master for the Atmore VFW. “We have to constantly keep their memories on every body’s mind, so they are never forgotten.”

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is celebrated on the third Friday of September and was established by an Act of Congress as a part of the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act. It is one of six days during the year with the POW/MIA Flag can be flown with the other days being Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

The day is used to support the several thousands of military personnel who are still currently listed as POW/MIA, Joseph Walker said.

“At the current date there are still more than 83,000 soldiers listed as MIA from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Cold War,” Walker said.

Prior to being recognized by the United States Government, National POW/MIA Recognition Day was still used as an act of support with the need to show support for those listed as POW or MIA came from the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.

From that came the black flag that is flown today in support of those who have never made it home.

The show of support in downtown Atmore was organized by the Atmore VFW Post 7016, along with the American Legion, and headed up by VFW post commander Billy Gates.
Bringing together a show of support was important to inform people of the day, Gates said.

“I organized this show of support with our friends from the American Legion,” Gates said. “We are out here just trying to bring recognition to the day. People don’t realize today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day.”

Helping the families of the fallen receive support and carrying on the memories is important, Gates said.

“As comrade Walker said, today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day,” Gates said. “We never want to forget fallen comrades. Families want closure and need closure. A lot of people don’t realize there are still that many POW and MIA listed. They have never been accounted for, so we want to keep their memory alive, so they are never forgotten. They shall not be forgotten.”