Fort Hamilton ceremony honors missing soldiers

It wasn’t just a day of remembrance for those that have paid theultimate price for their country, but also a way to acknowledgeU.S. soldiers still captured behind enemy lines.

In commemoration of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, on theafternoon of September 16, there was a ceremony at the U.S. ArmyGarrison at Fort Hamilton. The crowd consisted of enlistedsoldiers, veterans, civilians and police, all gathered to pay theirrespects.

It’s a great opportunity for those of us still in uniform torecognize the contributions of those who came before us and thosethat weren’t able to return to their family, said LieutenantColonel Rich Bordonaro of the U.S. Marines.

Bordonaro returned from a yearlong tour of duty in Afghanistanin March. He says this day should also honor the sacrificesfamilies of military personnel are asked to make.

Days like this are good to remember not only service memberswho haven’t come home, but family members that are still waitingfor them, he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are more than83,000 Americans missing from World War II, the Korean War, theCold War, the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War.

They have paid for freedom with their blood, their resolve,Colonel Michael Gould, commander of the U.S. Army Garrison at FortHamilton said.

Rudolf Thomas, a member of a New York chapter of the veteran’sorganization Rolling Thunder, hopes the day will spread awarenessabout missing military personnel.

Hopefully we can pass the message to the young people thatthere are still people missing in action, Thomas said. A lot ofpeople aren’t aware of that fact.

The day also attracted local politicians like State SenatorsMarty Golden and Diane Savino, and Assemblymember NicoleMalliotakis, along with F.B.I. Counterintelligence Special AgentRandall Thysee, whose father served in the Navy during WWII. Hesays the day’s objective is simple:

[It is] to honor all generations of the military and to showrespect and pride in our country, Thysee said.