ORLANDO, Fla. – City leaders, veterans and community members gathered Friday in downtown Orlando to honor America’s prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
The annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony featured keynote remarks from former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, who was captured in Iraq in 2003 after her Army unit was ambushed.
Lynch spent nine days in captivity before being rescued by U.S. special operations forces — the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II.
Lynch reminded the crowd of the thousands of service members who never returned home.
“Some of them have been missing for 50, 60 years,” she said. “Even though our hope is dwindling, we have to remember that they are not forgotten.”
The event included music from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2093 band and a presentation by the University of Central Florida ROTC. At its center stood a table with an empty chair, a symbol of sacrifice.
Lynch told families of missing service members that the commitment to remembering their loved ones remains strong.
“We want to make sure that even if they don’t make it home alive, that we continue to keep their families in our thoughts and prayers,” she said.
News 6’s Trooper Steve Montiero served as host for the ceremony.