Members of the American Legion Riders of Saluda/Kilmarnock honored those who were prisoners of war and missing in action with a Ride for the Never Forgotten on September 21 as part of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a national observance on the third Friday of September each year.
Starting in Saluda with a posting of a wreath at the war memorial, the 11 riders then made their way to the Lancaster war memorial, ending with the same simple, solemn ceremony. An honor guard in Lancaster was provided by the American Legion Post 86 of Kilmarnock, reported director Keith “Mac” McAuley.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 81,000 soldiers are unaccounted for from World War II to modern conflicts in the Middle East. Nearly 90% of those unaccounted for are from World War II.
“POW’s and MIA’s have no voice. They are not here with us, so as a tribute to all those POW/MIA’s and their families we, the American Legion Riders of Saluda/Kilmarnock decide to ‘Ride for the Never Forgotten’,” said McAuley. “We honor their contribution to this great nation by flying the POW/MIA flag along our journey so that we can proudly say we remember that you are ‘Never Forgotten’.”
