KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Statistics show there are more than 73 thousand world war two service members still unaccounted for, and thousands of other declared “missing in action” or “prisoners of war” remain missing.
A remembrance ceremony Saturday at Anita Gorman Park was dedicated to the thousands of missing in action or prisoner of war service personnel who never returned from war and have never been identified.
Bill Driscoll came home in May of 1967 from the Vietnam War, but so many he fought alongside did not.
“I have lost a lot of friends. I have friends that are on the wall,” said Driscoll.
“Those families, although they would like to have closure, there is no closure at this point for a lot of those families,” said Driscoll.
Missing service personnel are still being identified from World War II and Korea, and Driscoll said events like Saturday’s ceremony give families hope that their loved ones may one day come home too.
“That’s what it’s all about we need to see if we can help them find some sort of closure if at all possible,” said Driscoll.
Larry Lewis, who is also a Vietnam veteran, said the pain of losing friends and not knowing what happened to others in the war is still painful. He can’t bring himself to see the Vietnam veterans’ memorial built in his and his comrades’ honor.
“I couldn’t look at the wall, and it’s not that I’m not proud of that wall. I really am, but I didn’t want to see some names that I think might be there,” said Lewis.
He also said he volunteers his time with the color guard in order to remember.
“To us it’s like paying back for the guys that didn’t get to come home with us. We’re really proud to do this it’s really personal thing for I know all the Vietnam veterans,” said Lewis.
Every year the VFW holds national events to honor POWs and MIAs on the third Friday in September.
