Mangano to Host Annual POW/MIA Candlelight Ceremony on Monday

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano will host a annual candlelight ceremony in observation of National POW/MIA Recognition Day in Eisenhower Park on Monday.

“We honor the sacrifice of prisoners of war and those who have gone missing under our nation’s flag and the families that have been left behind,”  Mangano said.

Mangano will be joined by representatives of veterans’ organizations from throughout Nassau County, as well as elected officials, clergy and American ex-prisoners of war.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is observed the third Friday of September each year, was established by an Act of Congress in 1998 and is one of six days that the POW/MIA flag can be flown.

There are 74,074 unaccounted service members from World War II, 8,028 from Korea, 1,713 from Vietnam, 912 from the Gulf War and two from the War on Terror.

“A promise is given for those who wear the uniform of the United States that no one will be forgotten or left behind," Mangano said. "National POW/MIA Recognition Day is about keeping that promise through this special day of remembrance for the safe return of American Prisoners of War and those still missing in action.”

The ceremony will take place at the Veterans Memorial in Eisenhower Park at 6:45 p.m.