VFW/Legion to host Missing Man Ceremony September 19

Friday, September 19, at 12 noon, the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, along with the 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 on Mt. Hosmer, and the public is 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 represents the absence of these heroes, while each element of the setting carries deep meaning about sacrifice, honor, and remembrance.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed annually across the United States on 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 81,000 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. As organizers note, 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.