{"id":7760,"date":"2025-09-29T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7760"},"modified":"2025-09-29T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T18:30:00","slug":"va-facilities-nationwide-honor-pow-mias-with-remembrance-ceremonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7760","title":{"rendered":"VA facilities nationwide honor POW\/MIAs with remembrance ceremonies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-09-29T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Across the country, VA medical centers and partners gathered to honor America\u2019s prisoners of war<\/a> (POWs) and those still missing in action (MIA). From James A. Haley Veterans\u2019 Hospital<\/a> in Tampa, Florida, to the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System<\/a> in Tucson, Veterans, staff,and community members joined together to pay tribute, reflect and recommit to the promise: You are not forgotten.<\/p>\n

\n
1-\tDavis Monthan Air Force Base Commander, Col. Jose Cabrera renders former WWII POW, Harvey Horne a salute at the conclusion of his speech during the POW\/MIA Remembrance Ceremony at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz. held on Sept. 19, 2025. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

At James A. Haley Veterans\u2019 Hospital, the ceremony included an invocation, a presentation of the colors, the National Anthem and a symbolic Missing Comrade Table Ceremony led by Veterans from the Building Recovery and Achieving Veterans Empowerment (BRAVE) program. Attendees joined in a collective toast, lifting water glasses in honor of POW\/MIAs. \u201cThis table, set for one, is small\u2014symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors. \u201cRemember!\u201d a Veteran declared during the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Tucson, the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System partnered with Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to host its annual remembrance at the historic Pima Air and Space Museum. Interim Director Maria Nguyen reminded attendees of the solemn reality: more than 81,000 service members remain missing from past conflicts. The event featured a powerful keynote by Harvey Horne, a 101-year-old former POW, whose story of survival and resilience inspired the audience.<\/p>\n

Honoring sacrifice, inspiring generations<\/h2>\n
\n
James A. Haley Veterans\u2019 Hospital recently hosted a POW\/MIA Remembrance Ceremony, attracting Veterans, staff, and volunteers committed to honoring those who have been prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are missing in action (MIA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Both ceremonies underscored the importance of remembrance in uniting communities and honoring service. Chaplains, directors and commanders spoke of the nation\u2019s sacred duty to continue the search for the missing. \u201cUntil the day they come home, we will never forget,\u201d Chaplain Joseph Chacko reminded those in Tampa. In Tucson, Col. Jose Cabrera, Davis-Monthan AFB commander, emphasized the power of personal testimony: \u201cNot only will you inspire all of us to continue service, but you are living proof that we truly stand on the shoulders of giants.\u201d<\/p>\n

From solemn prayers to the playing of \u201cAmazing Grace,\u201d these ceremonies echoed a shared message across VA facilities nationwide: remembrance is not a single day, but a lifelong promise to those who served and sacrificed.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VA facilities across the country held POW\/MIA remembrance ceremonies, reaffirming the nation\u2019s vow to never forget those who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-veteran-stories","category-history-remembrance"],"yoast_head":"\nVA facilities nationwide honor POW\/MIAs with remembrance ceremonies - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VA facilities across the country held POW\/MIA remembrance ceremonies, reaffirming the nation\u2019s vow to never forget those who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7760\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VA facilities nationwide honor POW\/MIAs with remembrance ceremonies - 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