POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony to be held September 18 … Pictured above is a scene from a previous POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony hosted by the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, and Lansing American Legion Post #50 on top of Mt. Hosmer in Lansing. An instrumental part of the ceremony includes the empty table setting pictured in the photo, signifying the absence of these missing heroes, with each item in the placesetting carrying a deep meaning regarding sacrifice, honor and remembrance. The public is invited to attend the noon ceremony scheduled for this Friday, September 18. Submitted photo.
This Friday, September 18, at 12 noon, the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, along with Lansing American Legion Post #50, will host a special ceremony on Mt. Hosmer to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The program will be held on the Ralph Bartels Patio, located next to the shelter atop Mt. Hosmer, and the public is warmly invited to attend. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for seating.
At the heart of the observance will be the solemn Missing Man Ceremony, a symbolic tradition that honors those who are still missing from this nation’s past wars and conflicts, as well as those who gave their lives in service but whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home. The empty place at the table at the ceremony represents the absence of these heroes, while each element of the table setting carries deep meaning about sacrifice, honor, and remembrance.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed annually across the United States the third Friday in September. Established by Congress in 1979, the day is dedicated to remembering the tens of thousands of Americans who are still listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA). The iconic black-and-white POW/MIA flag, which will be displayed during the ceremony, serves as a powerful reminder of the nation’s ongoing commitment to account for every service member.
Since World War II, more than 80,000 Americans remain missing. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency continues its mission to locate, identify, and return these individuals to their families, underscoring the nation’s promise never to forget them.
By holding this local ceremony, Lansing’s veterans’ organizations join communities across the country in reaffirming that promise. The event is not only a remembrance of the missing but also a moment to honor their families and to renew the community’s commitment to ensuring their sacrifice is never overlooked.