By Sue Hohenadel
Redneck Editor

“Missing in Action, Prisoners of War, bring them home to American soil once more.”

That line was part of the poem, “Don’t Tell Me He is Missing,” read by Al Philo, president of the Friends of the Forgotten, during the group’s opening ceremony held in Pottstown’s Memorial Park.

As part of the memorial event, held in conjunction with National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 95 Vietnam veterans from Pennsylvania officially listed as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action, were remembered during the annual ceremony.

Nearly 200 people attended the ceremony with more than 100 motorcycles riding to the park in remembrance of those who never made it home.

Friends of the Forgotten is a non-profit organization that works to raise public awareness on the POW/MIA issue. They recently held their twenty-year memorial service in Valley Forge. The Pottstown chapter was organized in 2003.

Since World War I, more than 200,000 Americans have been listed as Prisoners Of War or Missing In Action.  Less than half of them were returned at the end of the war, leaving more than 125,000 American servicemen missing in action since the beginning of World War I.

During the 14 years of American involvement in Southeast Asia, specifically, the Vietnam War, more than 2,500 Americans were captured or listed as missing in action.

Julius and Dianne Banyai of Pottstown have been involved in Friends of the Forgotten for the past seven years. They also helped to coordinate this year’s event. And they both know all-too-well the pain that being a family member of a POW/MIA can cause.

“My husband is a vet from the Vietnam era,” said Dianne. “He served in Germany during the war.”

“He and I always carry the patch that honors my cousin, Edward Romig.”

Dianne’s cousin Edward is listed as KIA or Killed in Action and his remains are unknown.

A presentation of colors by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 565 opened the event, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.

Before the ceremony even began, 95 members of the Friends of the Forgotten were given a patch that commemorated the name and hometown of one of the 95 Pennsylvania MIA/POWs. At the end of the service, the members were able to keep the patch as a tribute to the soldier.

Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas said during her opening remarks,

“We have sent our friends and family members to unfriendly places so that we can remain free.”

“This is not a political matter,” she continued. “This is a matter of the heart. Patriotism is alive and well because of all of you.”

After Mayor Thomas’ speech, role call was held for the 95 POW/MIA men and women. Members of the Friends of the Forgotten read the name and hometown of each soldier and the person holding that patch rang the bell to keep their memory alive.

And after each name was read, the crowd responded with, “Still missing but not forgotten.”

Following the final name, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” followed by a rifle salute.

“We can’t let this tradition just fade away,” said Dianne. “These people gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and it’s up to all of us to remember them as the heroes they are.”

Friends of the Forgotten meetings are open to the public and held on the first Monday of the month at the Blue Comets Club in Skippack. The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and all are welcome.

For more information on the Friends of the Forgotten, please visit the Web site at www.friendsoftheforgotten.org.

“We are always looking for new members to help keep this important issue at the forefront of everyone’s minds,” said Dianne.

“No one who has ever fought for our country should ever be forgotten, whether they came home or not.”