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Retired Staff Agt. Arthur Bryan, a Killeen resident and lifelong musician who served in the National Guard and spent 20 years on active duty playing trumpet in Army bands, performed “Amazing Grace” on trumpet during POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony in Killeen.[John Clark – Herald]
Episode 3117 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day Held at Killeen, Texas. The featured story appeared in The Killeen Daily Herald. It is titled: Local veterans group hosts ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It was submitted by John Clark, a Herald correspondent.
Clark reported that on a recent Friday morning, veterans, officials, and community members gathered outside the Killeen Civic and Conference Center to honor National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a solemn event dedicated to remembering prisoners of war and those still missing in action. Hosted by Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans of Copperas Cove, the ceremony took place near the Korean War Memorial and featured the posting of colors, the national anthem, scripture, prayer, and wreath-laying by numerous local veterans’ organizations.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, established in 1979, is observed nationwide on the third Friday of September to honor those who endured captivity and those whose fates remain unknown. The Killeen event brought together representatives from Killeen, Harker Heights, and Copperas Cove to affirm their commitment to never forgetting these heroes.
Retired U.S. Army officer and Vietnam veteran Ed Mullins shared a powerful personal story about a failed mission to rescue American POWs during the Vietnam War. Though his unit narrowly missed saving them, Mullins reflected on the lasting weight of that mission. “We owe them the honor of remembering,” he said, emphasizing the moral duty to recognize those left behind.
A symbolic “Missing Man Table” was unveiled, featuring items representing loss, hope, and remembrance. Killeen City Council member Anthony Kendrick summed up the spirit of the day: “We must not forget those that did not come home.”
The ceremony in Killeen was more than a tribute—it was a reminder that the sacrifices of POWs and MIAs are not forgotten. As communities across the country continue to honor them, events like this ensure their legacy endures.
Listen to Episode 3117 and discover more about the Ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day Held at Killeen, Texas.
