National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize National POW/MIA Day and honor the servicemembers who have not yet made it home. We can never give up in bringing them home and getting answers for their loved ones who await their return.

I commend those who work during this national recognition each September and throughout the year to raise awareness about the continued need to return our missing servicemembers. This includes members of the POW*MIA Awareness Rally Corp. of Pocatello, ID, who hold rallies and other events to keep a spotlight on the immense service of our Nation's veterans.

Also, thank you to those who are working hard to bring all of our servicemembers home. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is the organization primarily responsible for coordinating and conducting research and recovery efforts for POW and MIA soldiers, reports that more than 82,000 Americans remain missing from World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, the Gulf wars, and other conflicts. This includes 355 remaining POW and MIA veterans from Idaho. So far this month, the agency has reported accounting for 18 missing servicemembers, most of whom were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. This work of identifying and returning our servicemembers is no doubt painstaking, but imperative. Until we account for all our missing and bring each of these Americans home, wounds remain unhealed.

I pray that all of the families and friends of missing servicemembers experience the long-awaited return of their loved ones. May all those who serve our Nation feel how grateful we are for their security of the blessings of our liberty. Let's bring them all home.

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