The City of Fall River observed National POW/MIA Recognition Day with a memorial ceremony held at the veterans’ monument park. The event opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, recognition of Mayor Paul E. Coogan, and an opening invocation delivered by Reverend Andy Stinson honoring the more than 81,500 American service members who remain missing and unaccounted for across foreign conflicts. Organizers highlighted the vital mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and the ongoing necessity of federal budget support to continue repatriation efforts worldwide.
Key presentations included a remembrance poem read by Louise Quinton, remarks by Fall River Director of Veterans’ Services Talos Farris, and the reading of the Presidential Proclamation by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 207 Treasurer Harold Tripp. Chapter 207 Secretary Don Albert subsequently read aloud the names of the 59 service members from Massachusetts who remain listed as missing in action, emphasizing the importance of speaking their names so their sacrifices are never forgotten.
Guest speaker Mike Cunningham, an Army infantry combat veteran and author, recounted harrowing battlefield experiences from the Vietnam War and shared personal tributes to fallen comrades, including Donald Green, Phil Hernandez, Steve Pettis, and Jerry Oxia. Cunningham spoke about his four return trips to Vietnam to locate missing remains and the importance of bilateral artifact exchanges to help locate missing soldiers. The ceremony concluded with a closing prayer by Reverend Rob and the playing of Taps.
Topics discussed
- 0:00 · Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Remarks
Opening welcome acknowledging Mayor Paul E. Coogan and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. - 0:52 · Opening Prayer
Reverend Andy Stinson delivered the invocation in remembrance of POWs, MIAs, and their families. - 4:06 · Remembrance Poem
Louise Quinton recited a poem dedicated to POW/MIA service members. - 5:09 · Veterans’ Services Remarks
Director of Veterans’ Services Talos Farris spoke on the importance of remembering POWs and MIAs and acknowledged Chapter 207 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. - 6:53 · Reading of the Presidential Proclamation
Harold Tripp read the official Presidential Proclamation for National POW/MIA Recognition Day. - 8:31 · DPAA Overview and Repatriation Efforts
Overview of statistics on missing service personnel from World War II to modern conflicts, the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), and advocacy regarding its federal funding. - 11:04 · Roll Call of Massachusetts MIAs
Don Albert read aloud the names of 59 service members from Massachusetts listed as missing in action. - 15:28 · Keynote Address by Mike Cunningham
Vietnam veteran and author Mike Cunningham shared personal combat memories and discussed ongoing search and recovery efforts in Vietnam. - 23:02 · Artifact Exchange and Closing Prayer
Remarks on reconciliation and returning wartime artifacts to assist identification efforts, followed by a benediction from Reverend Rob and the playing of Taps.