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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, September 20, 2002

Ceremonies today to honor POWs and those missing

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

POW/MIA Recognition Day is being held today in Hawai'i with observances at three locations.

Hickam Air Force Base's annual ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. behind the officer's club.

The event will include a wreath-laying, 21-gun salute and performance of "Lest We Forget" sung by Henry Kapono.

A 1:30 p.m. tribute is planned at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Hawai'i servicemen listed as missing in action from the Korean War will be recognized, with about 25 family members representing 18 casualties expected to attend.

The Korean War Commemoration Committee has been marking the 50th anniversary of the war from June 25, 2000, through Nov. 11, 2003.

"The war ended for our military men missing in action in the Korean War 50 years ago," said Gene Castagnetti, director of the Punchbowl cemetery. "However, their fate remains unresolved for the families left behind. Therefore, our task is to remember, and through remembrance we honor those who remain missing in action."

The U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawai'i, and Joint Task ForceiFull Accounting will have a 3:30 p.m. ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial in recognition of prisoners of war and those missing in action from previous wars.

A six-station static display explaining the investigation, recovery and identification processes involved in bringing home unaccounted-for service members will be in place from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the walkway leading to the memorial.

About 1,900 Americans are unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, more than 8,100 from the Korean War, 120 from the Cold War, more than 78,000 from World War II, and one service member from the Gulf War.