Hattiesburg Veterans Committee hosts POW/MIA Recognition Day program

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Members of several veterans organizations in the Hattiesburg area gathered at Hattiesburg’s Veterans Memorial Park Friday morning to remember the nation’s prisoners of war or missing in action.

An event commemorating National POW/MIA Recognition Day was jointly hosted for the first time by the Hattiesburg Veterans Committee, the American Legion, VFW Post 3036, VFW Post 5397 and the DAV.

As part of the event, special tribute was paid to the Late U.S. Air Force officer and Hattiesburg native Col. George Robert Hall. He was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from 1965-1973.

Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities each year. No matter where these ceremonies are held, the programs share the common purpose of honoring those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.

The third Friday in September was established as National POW/MIA Day by a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

For more details about the national program, visit HERE.

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