CLEVELAND, Tenn. - America's prisoners of war and those missing in action were honored and remembered Friday in a service organized by a number of area veterans groups.
"We are here today to reassure and to demonstrate we will not forget," master of ceremonies Ed Baumuller said.
Two Iraq War veterans, Fred Phillips and Jacob Day, carried a memorial wreath to its place at the front of the room at the VFW post here.
Day returned home this summer with the 278th Armored Calvary Regiment united in Cleveland. Phillips served in Iraq in 2005 with the Chattanooga Seabees unit and retired in 2006.
Pearl Harbor survivor George Allen lighted a memorial candle at a table with one place setting, symbolizing those missing.
From World War II to Afghanistan, more than 100,000 Americans are unaccounted for, he said.
"We will live with their memories forever," he said.
President Barack Obama issued a national proclamation Thursday marking Friday as a day to remember.
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland read a proclamation from Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Rowland also recognized the ROTC color guard from Bradley Central High School. Bradley Central recently started an ROTC unit after the program had been dormant for years.
"I'm glad to see they are back," Rowland said.
Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis read a proclamation from the two mayors.
Contact Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.