Since last week’s terrorist attacks, people are showing keener interest in America’s war dead. Organizers expect heavy attendance at a state ceremony to honor former prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Staff photo by Brian Thorpe Veteran's Memorial monument in Hope Mills

"It’s definitely stirred the patriotism in the American people and they feel they need to go out and do something patriotic," said Tom Stanley, president of Rolling Thunder and the junior vice president for Cumberland County’s Veterans Council.

Today is national Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Recognition Day. Ceremonies are planned across the country.

A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial outside Lexington.

More than 2,000 people, almost double last year’s attendance, are expected to attend, including numerous groups from Fayetteville.

The ceremony was almost canceled because of the terrorist attacks.

"We have to go on with this," said Diane Rierson, the ceremony coordinator. "This is something we’ve got to do."

The ceremony will recognize prisoners of war and those missing in action from the country’s wars. The 5,400 lives lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania will also be honored.

Stanley said that since last week’s attacks he has received e-mails and phone calls from people he does not know inquiring about Saturday’s memorial service.

Thousands still missing

The state’s four Rolling Thunder chapters are sponsoring the service. The nonprofit group brings public awareness to POW and MIA issues.

"We remind the public that there are still thousands of service men missing in action from all wars," Stanley said.

Some view the dead and missing from last week’s attacks in the same light.

"The president considers those attacks an act of war," Stanley said. "And I personally consider those people missing from an act of war."

Stanley said many he has spoken with feel the same way. Rescue workers continue searching through the wreckage of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but with little hope of finding survivors. Victim identification will be a lengthy process, and some bodies may never be found. "Civilians will be keenly aware of what it means to be missing," said Bill Richardson, a retired colonel and former Korean War POW. "These families are going to suffer."

Fayetteville’s American Ex-Prisoner of War chapter has about 40 members, and Paul Dallas, a former World War II POW, wants to keep it that way.

"If we go into that country (Afghanistan) I’m afraid there will be a lot more prisoners of war," he said. Dallas is the national junior vice commander of the American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Richardson believes young Americans will rise to the occasion in the event of war.

"Generation X is brought into the real world real quick here," he said. "They have lived through great times and affluence. But I don’t think they will react any differently than the greatest generation. They’ll stand up and do the job just as well."

For information on Saturday’s ceremony, contact Tom Stanley at (910) 630-2339.

Staff writer Tanya Biank can be reached at (910) 323-4848, extension 370, or biankt@fayettevillenc.com

SOURCE: Fayetteville Observer - 21 September 2001 - News Section