MOUNT VERNON — Supporters of men and women declared missing in action or prisoners of war gathered for a solemn POW/MIA vigil service Saturday morning in front of the Mount Vernon Memorial Building.
The ceremony was opened with JROTC Lt. Col. Chris Salvucci giving the welcome.
The Knox County Career Center JROTC presented the colors, and the national anthem was then sung by Ashley Burke. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by George Curry, Knox County Veterans Service Office board member, followed by music from the Mount Vernon Heritage Singers which performed renditions of “We the People” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Kevin Henthorn, director of the Knox County Veterans Service Office, then shared thoughts and emotions of a family’s plight who discovered their son was missing in action. He told the story of looking through a briefcase belonging to “Jimmy,” telling of the many letters and news articles of fellow MIA’s. The most humbling yet encouraging, according to Henthorn, were the “words of faith, hope and love expressed to each other (MIA’s).”
