REMEMBRANCE: VFW, AUXILIARY REMEMBER POWs, MIAs

Rolling the flag: The special POW-MIA flag was handled with care by veterans, following the remembrance ceremony. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Flags: Special commemorative flags now fly at the entrance to the Veterans of all Wars Memorial. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Rain could not halt the special POW-MIA Remembrance ceremony Sept. 9.

A large crowd still ventured to the Veterans of all Wars Memorial at Jackson's Brookside Park Saturday morning.

Sponsored by VFW Post 10495 and its auxiliary, the ceremony began with walk from the Municipal Pool to Brookside Park. All branches of the service were represented. It was coordinated by Grace Wille.

Once there, a welcome was given by Commander E.P. Kurre. After the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem -- sang by Marsha Caughlan -- Kurre introduced the guest speaker.

Ian Sutherland, first assistant prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau County, gave the keynote speech. Sutherland spent 23 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, Special Operations and intelligence organizations. He was with the original 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Republic of Vietnam, 1966; and Special Forces School, Fort Bragg, N.C. He worked with the Province Operations Division of the CIA in Vietnam and the Joint Personnel Recovery Center for the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam. He also worked for the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency in Tehran, Iran.

Sutherland also wrote "The U.S. Army Special Forces, 1952-1982," published in 1990.

A benediction was given by Chaplain Emil Brase, following Sutherland's talk. Caughlan then sang "Amazing Grace" and Katie Clark and Clay Turner played "Taps." The Co. B, 1140th Engineering Brigade then fired a salute.

Still proud: The pride of America's veterans was still evident as they gathered Sept. 9 to remember prisoners of war and comrades still missing in action. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Rolling the flag: The special POW-MIA flag was handled with care by veterans, following the remembrance ceremony. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Flags: Special commemorative flags now fly at the entrance to the Veterans of all Wars Memorial. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans