Every year on the third Friday of September citizens across the country stop to recognize the sacrifices American soldiers have made throughout history.
Andrew Deskins | Argonaut
Master Sgt. Craig Collins and Cadet Ross Anderson conclude land navigation excercises Thursday. Anderson will be participating in the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action recognition ceremony on Saturday.
POW/MIA Recognition Day is a national day of observance that gives people the chance to come together and honor the members of the American armed forces who were not fortunate enough to return from conflicts abroad.
Unlike Memorial or Veterans Day, POW/MIA recognition day is designated to celebrate those whose fate is unknown.
Vietnam Veteran and University of Idaho alum Morris Bentley is very grateful for the holiday and stressed its importance.
“Men and women of the armed services are commended for their sacrifices regularly, but that’s what makes this day so important. It is a chance for the country to come together and honor the people who truly made a sacrifice. We get to let them know that we still care and acknowledge them, it’s an extremely important day,” Bentley said.
Many veterans appreciate the effort and hope to see this tradition continue at the UI Bentley said.
“As a veteran, POW/MIA recognition is important, those are the people you never forget about,” Bentley said. “They are the true heroes that never made it home and honoring their memory is the least we could do for the service they have provided our country.”
Each year the University of Idaho hosts Military Appreciation Day, and the POW/MIA recognition ceremony is a part of the days events.
The ceremony brings the University of Idaho and Washington State University ROTC programs together, along with a multitude of local veterans, to honor their fallen comrades.
Many non-military members of the community also come out to show their support and take part in assorted military appreciation activities.
Local businesses also contribute to the event by donating resources, time, and money to support military veterans and active military personnel.
University of Idaho student and Air Force veteran Booker Sherwood said he loves to see the community come together to honor veterans, especially those who he said need the support most.
“Prisoners of War have experienced something nobody can relate to,” Sherwood said. “Standing up and honoring them, being a community that appreciates that sacrifice, and the sacrifices that all veterans make is important and helps our armed forces operate more smoothly.”
Sherwood said there is sometimes a divide that forms between military and non-military members of society.
“Events like Veterans Day and POW/MIA recognition day help bridge that divide. POW/MIA is even more important though. It helps veterans mourn and honor those who we may never see again,” Sherwood said.
The POW/MIA Recognition ceremony will begin Military Appreciation Day at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, on the Administration Building lawn.
“Ceremonies like the one happening on Saturday not only help us honor fallen heroes, they help veterans work their way back into civilian life,” Sherwood said.
Military Appreciation Day will continue with a reception immediately following the ceremony.
Military Appreciation Day will conclude with the University of Idaho football game against Northern Illinois University.
“Our country doesn’t do enough for the men and women you don’t see from again. There aren’t enough parades for the fallen, there aren’t enough monuments,” Bentley said. “Events like this help ease wounds and some people reach closure. It might not seem important to you, but for the veteran community things like this really mean a lot.”
Justin Ackerman can be reached at [email protected]