Owego/Tioga county POW/MIA recognition day vigil

This from Owego Veterans Memorial Committee:

OWEGO/TIOGA COUNTY POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY VIGIL September 19 and 20.



Tioga County veterans will take the time this weekend at a 24-hour vigil in Owego to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA) as well as their families.



The traditional Tioga County POW/MIA Recognition Day Vigil in Owego is from 3 p.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Court House.



Veterans in two man shifts will stand watch in front of the memorials for Tioga County's fallen heroes and near the POW/MIA Missing Man Table.



Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary members proudly represent their comrades from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afganistan, VFW and American Legion from posts in Owego, Candor, Nichols, Waverly and Spencer Van Etten.



The black and white POW/MIA flag symbolizes the Unites States' resolve to never forget POWs or those who served their country in conflicts and are still missing.



All may visit this solemn, poignant and important event anytime during the 24-hour vigil to remember the 1,741 Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam war.



The Defense Department says there are 124 unaccounted for from New York State. Two are from the Broome County communities of Binghamton and Maine. There are no Tioga County names on the listing.



From the Korean conflict, there are four Army soldiers missing who listed Tioga County as their home of record.



Fallen heroes from Tioga County towns not identified are Army Pfc. Gene Elmer Barton Killed in Action Dec. 2, 1950, Army Cpl. Richard Henderson Missing in Action Dec. 6, 1950, Army Sgt. Leonard Charles Hull Prisoner of War July 20, 1950 and Sgt. James Henry Martin Prisoner of War Feb. 12, 1951.