RTNC1 hosted a POW-MIA Recognition Day Candlelight Vigil at Freedom Memorial Park in Fayetteville. Although weather reports called for rain most of the day and night, we didn't get any rain at all.
Andrea Richard served as the host, and Kim Reed joined her for the reading of names of North Carolinians still listed as missing from the Vietnam and Korean Wars - a total of 243 servicemen.
Service caps prepared for use in the Missing Man Table Ceremony.
The all-service memorial at the park, which was donated by RTNC1.
Members who performed the Table Ceremony were Toby Ellis, Fuzzy Richard, Whimpy Reed, Lonnie Eddings, Ray Kimbrell, and Kathy Gurnett.
Placing the caps...
...and rendering a salute to those who could not join us.
Don Talbot from American Legion Post 32 salutes the wreath placed at the all-service memorial.
Andrea reading the names of North Carolina's missing from Vietnam...
...while candles are placed at the base of the Vietnam War Memorial...
...hand salutes rendered by Ken Pervine,...
...Kathy Gurnett and Lonnie Eddings.
Joe Pena renders a hand salute at the Korean War Memorial after placing a candle at its base...
...as does Ted Hammond...
...while Kim Reed continues reading the list of North Carolinians missing from that war.
Toby Ellis renders a hand salute after placing one of 200 candles at the Korean War Memorial...
...Lonnie Eddings renders a hand salute at the Korean War Memorial.
Ray Kimbrell and Whimpy Reed place candles at the base of the Korean War Memorial.
Joe Pena assists with the reading of names of North Carolina's missing from Korea.
The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, a symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.
The are 200 servicemen from North Carolina who have yet to return home from the Korean War.
There are 43 servicemen from North Carolina who have yet to return home from the Vietnam War.
There are more than 78,000 American servicemen who have yet to return home from World War II.
Many thanks to all the Rolling Thunder NC1 members who came out and represented the chapter. It is an incredibly important thing that you did here this evening.
Thanks to WTVD 11 for coming out and providing coverage of the event.
And thanks to Roger Chason for the photos.
