WEBVTT 00:00.280 --> 00:03.309 Ok . Ok , good morning . 00:03.880 --> 00:06.489 Welcome to today's ceremony to unveil 00:06.500 --> 00:08.970 the 2023 National 00:08.979 --> 00:12.630 Powmi , a recognition day poster . 00:13.189 --> 00:15.569 Please stand and direct your attention 00:15.579 --> 00:17.746 to the arrival of the official party . 00:18.129 --> 00:20.129 Today's official party includes the 00:20.129 --> 00:22.240 Secretary of the Army , the honorable 00:22.240 --> 00:24.351 Christine Warmoth and the director of 00:24.351 --> 00:26.685 the defense Powmi , a accounting agency . 00:26.685 --> 00:28.010 Mr Kelly Mig . 00:33.819 --> 00:34.889 Please be seated . 00:39.349 --> 00:41.180 We are grateful to have , 00:45.299 --> 00:47.790 we are grateful to have a former pow 00:47.849 --> 00:50.740 family members , veterans service 00:50.750 --> 00:53.020 organizations and those tuning in via 00:53.029 --> 00:54.862 live stream . Joining us today , 00:55.119 --> 00:58.229 National Pow Mi A Recognition Day was 00:58.240 --> 01:00.599 established in 1979 through a 01:00.610 --> 01:02.819 proclamation signed by President Jimmy 01:02.830 --> 01:05.830 Carter . Since then , each subsequent 01:05.839 --> 01:07.561 president has issued an annual 01:07.561 --> 01:09.750 proclamation Commemorating the Third 01:09.760 --> 01:13.099 Friday in September as National Pwmi . 01:13.139 --> 01:16.760 A recognition day . Since 1999 the 01:16.769 --> 01:18.769 Department of Defense has created a 01:18.769 --> 01:21.040 poster Commemorating this special day . 01:21.400 --> 01:24.160 And the 2023 edition of the poster 01:24.169 --> 01:26.639 continues this tradition . We are 01:26.650 --> 01:28.872 grateful you are all here for tuning in 01:28.879 --> 01:31.101 to commemorate this special moment with 01:31.101 --> 01:33.949 us . Today , we have gathered to honor 01:33.959 --> 01:35.681 and acknowledge those who have 01:35.681 --> 01:38.599 sacrificed so much for our nation and 01:38.610 --> 01:41.379 survived harsh captivity to return with 01:41.389 --> 01:44.160 honor . We are especially honored to 01:44.169 --> 01:46.970 have former POW retired air force , 01:46.980 --> 01:49.040 Colonel , Mister Michael Brazelton . 01:51.269 --> 01:53.325 Let's give him a round of applause . 01:53.325 --> 01:52.699 Everyone 01:58.699 --> 02:01.379 we have also gathered unified in our 02:01.389 --> 02:04.510 belief that every unaccounted for us , 02:04.519 --> 02:06.730 service member and civilian from our 02:06.739 --> 02:08.929 past conflicts should never be 02:08.940 --> 02:12.009 forgotten . These men and women paid a 02:12.020 --> 02:14.076 heavy price for the cause of freedom 02:14.100 --> 02:15.933 and deserve the fullest possible 02:15.933 --> 02:17.989 accounting and to be brought home to 02:17.989 --> 02:20.419 their loved ones . We are honored to 02:20.429 --> 02:22.373 have with us today . Distinguished 02:22.373 --> 02:23.985 guests from veterans service 02:23.985 --> 02:27.369 organizations , family groups and 02:27.380 --> 02:29.491 family members of the unaccounted and 02:29.491 --> 02:31.910 accounted for from past conflicts . 02:31.919 --> 02:34.030 Let's give them a round of applause . 02:37.529 --> 02:39.696 It is now my pleasure to introduce the 02:39.696 --> 02:41.990 director of the Defense Powmi , a 02:42.000 --> 02:43.910 accounting agency . Mr Kelly M , 02:50.949 --> 02:52.838 distinguished guests , department 02:52.838 --> 02:54.949 leaders , ladies and gentlemen , good 02:54.949 --> 02:57.116 morning . And thank you for joining us 02:57.116 --> 02:59.005 here at this important ceremony . 02:59.005 --> 03:01.060 Secretary Warm . Thank you very much 03:01.060 --> 03:03.060 for officiating this ceremony since 03:03.060 --> 03:04.893 before our nation's founding and 03:04.893 --> 03:06.893 whenever our enemies jeopardize our 03:06.893 --> 03:09.199 liberties and our freedoms . Americans 03:09.210 --> 03:11.830 have answered the call to duty here and 03:11.839 --> 03:14.679 abroad , tens of thousands were taken 03:14.690 --> 03:16.990 as prisoners of war where they faced 03:17.000 --> 03:19.419 inconceivable , hardships and suffering , 03:20.320 --> 03:22.320 but they persevered with inordinate 03:22.320 --> 03:24.729 courage , faith , and resilience to 03:24.740 --> 03:27.820 return home with honor . There are also 03:27.830 --> 03:29.899 tens of thousands who are tragically 03:29.910 --> 03:32.600 still unaccounted for . They made the 03:32.610 --> 03:35.259 supreme sacrifice for our nation and 03:35.270 --> 03:37.437 their families still grieve over their 03:37.437 --> 03:40.279 loss which is exacerbated . By inherent 03:40.389 --> 03:44.050 uncertainties . America's steadfast 03:44.059 --> 03:47.089 commitment to its pows and has spanned 03:47.100 --> 03:49.660 decades . It is manifested no more 03:49.669 --> 03:52.380 tangibly and profoundly than by the 03:52.389 --> 03:54.556 extraordinary lengths . The Department 03:54.556 --> 03:57.100 of Defense takes to find , recover , 03:57.110 --> 03:59.860 identify and repatriate the remains of 03:59.869 --> 04:02.910 its unaccounted for heroes . The work 04:02.919 --> 04:05.940 is complex , arduous and often involves 04:05.949 --> 04:09.100 great risk . It is also humanitarian 04:09.110 --> 04:11.166 effort that benefits from the strong 04:11.166 --> 04:14.389 cooperation of 45 partner nations where 04:14.399 --> 04:17.779 Americans lay fallen this very day , 04:17.790 --> 04:19.700 teams are operating in Austria , 04:19.709 --> 04:21.709 Belgium , the Federated States of 04:21.720 --> 04:24.170 Micronesia , France , Italy , Palau , 04:24.630 --> 04:26.980 the United Kingdom , Vanuatu and 04:26.989 --> 04:29.790 Vietnam . Another tangible 04:29.799 --> 04:31.466 manifestation of our nation's 04:31.466 --> 04:34.380 commitment to its pows and MA S occurs 04:34.390 --> 04:37.029 every third Friday in September with 04:37.040 --> 04:38.873 the designation and presidential 04:38.873 --> 04:41.510 Proclamation of National Mi A 04:41.519 --> 04:44.290 Recognition day . The poster to be 04:44.299 --> 04:46.529 unveiled today is designed to promote 04:46.540 --> 04:48.850 this special day and further raise the 04:48.859 --> 04:50.915 nation's consciousness of its sacred 04:50.915 --> 04:53.410 obligation . It was beautifully 04:53.420 --> 04:56.450 designed by two navy by two Dpan CS 04:56.700 --> 04:58.959 army sergeant , first class Cory Idel 04:59.140 --> 05:01.260 Beg and Navy , Petero petty Officer , 05:01.269 --> 05:05.100 second class Annelise Conde . Another 05:05.109 --> 05:07.720 reminder of our moral responsibility is 05:07.730 --> 05:10.510 the iconic Powmi , a flag that you see 05:10.519 --> 05:13.700 solemnly hanging in this corridor . It 05:13.709 --> 05:16.059 compels us to action with its poignant 05:16.070 --> 05:18.709 silhouette and the powerful words you 05:18.720 --> 05:22.429 are not forgotten . Someone who has not 05:22.440 --> 05:24.496 forgotten is the honorable Christine 05:24.496 --> 05:26.809 Wermuth who a little over two years ago 05:26.820 --> 05:30.160 became our nation's 25th Secretary of 05:30.170 --> 05:32.679 the Army . Having entered government 05:32.690 --> 05:35.779 service in 1995 Secretary Warmoth is a 05:35.790 --> 05:37.829 seasoned and respected national 05:37.839 --> 05:40.309 security professional , having served 05:40.320 --> 05:42.598 in multiple posts here at the Pentagon , 05:42.779 --> 05:44.779 as well as on the National Security 05:44.779 --> 05:46.980 Council . She has also held senior 05:46.989 --> 05:48.933 leader positions at the Center for 05:48.933 --> 05:51.279 Strategic and International Studies and 05:51.290 --> 05:54.390 the RAND Corporation . But her direct 05:54.399 --> 05:56.609 contribution and connection to this 05:56.619 --> 05:59.720 noble Powmi , a mission was when she 05:59.730 --> 06:01.452 provided timely leadership and 06:01.452 --> 06:03.679 oversight as the undersecretary of 06:03.690 --> 06:07.600 defense for policy from 2014 to 2016 . 06:08.279 --> 06:10.410 Ladies and gentlemen , it's our honor 06:10.420 --> 06:12.587 to introduce to you , Secretary of the 06:12.587 --> 06:14.850 Army Christine . We madam secretary . 06:21.890 --> 06:25.320 Ok . Thank you so much , Dr mckee . For 06:25.329 --> 06:27.540 those , the very nice introduction and 06:27.549 --> 06:29.382 good morning , everyone . It's a 06:29.382 --> 06:31.438 pleasure to see you all . I'm really 06:31.438 --> 06:33.899 honored to be here today as we renew 06:33.910 --> 06:35.980 our commitment to one of dod s most 06:35.989 --> 06:38.459 sacred commitments and I'm humbled that 06:38.470 --> 06:40.359 we're doing it in the presence of 06:40.359 --> 06:42.470 Colonel Brazelton who spent more than 06:42.470 --> 06:44.920 six years in captivity in Vietnam . 06:45.339 --> 06:47.619 Colonel Brazelton , I believe is joined 06:47.630 --> 06:50.760 here today by his wife Gloria and his 06:50.769 --> 06:52.899 daughter , Lieutenant Colonel Adriana 06:52.910 --> 06:55.077 Brazelton , who I'm proud to say is on 06:55.077 --> 06:58.859 team army . We are joined today 06:58.869 --> 07:01.299 also by several relatives of our 07:01.309 --> 07:04.339 missing in action . Colleen Shine whose 07:04.350 --> 07:08.000 father was recovered in 1996 major 07:08.010 --> 07:10.260 Christina Roberts , whose great uncle 07:10.269 --> 07:13.510 was identified two years ago . And Pam 07:13.519 --> 07:15.899 Kane and Jeannie Huffman who are 07:15.910 --> 07:18.350 working so hard to see that their loved 07:18.359 --> 07:21.500 ones are accounted for right up front . 07:21.510 --> 07:24.019 I want to thank director mckee and the 07:24.029 --> 07:26.899 men and women of DPA A , whether you 07:26.910 --> 07:29.529 work here in the Pentagon or in one of 07:29.540 --> 07:31.890 the forensic laboratories , whether you 07:31.899 --> 07:34.769 analyze data in an office or whether 07:34.779 --> 07:36.890 you conduct investigations in some 07:36.899 --> 07:38.955 remote part of the world . And Kelly 07:38.955 --> 07:41.066 mentioned a number of locations where 07:41.066 --> 07:43.579 DP A is operating today . Everything 07:43.589 --> 07:45.920 you're doing is helping to ensure that 07:45.929 --> 07:48.730 we honor and remember the sacrifices of 07:48.739 --> 07:51.290 dod personnel who are not yet accounted 07:51.299 --> 07:54.619 for . I also want to welcome our guests 07:54.630 --> 07:56.899 from veterans and family organizations 07:56.910 --> 07:59.021 who have done so much to advance this 07:59.021 --> 08:02.059 mission . Anyone who walks through this 08:02.070 --> 08:04.369 exhibit in the hallway will learn that 08:04.380 --> 08:07.440 our pow and mi A families have been 08:07.450 --> 08:10.579 steadfast in holding the country and 08:10.589 --> 08:12.760 the Department of Defense to its 08:12.769 --> 08:15.269 commitments . And as director mckee 08:15.279 --> 08:17.660 mentioned , I can speak about this from 08:17.670 --> 08:20.170 personal experience because I was 08:20.179 --> 08:22.500 serving when then Secretary of Defense 08:22.510 --> 08:25.670 Chuck Hagel was secretary and there 08:25.679 --> 08:27.820 were a series of troubling incidents 08:27.829 --> 08:30.250 that took place at that time that made 08:30.260 --> 08:33.809 clear that the department's pow mi A 08:33.929 --> 08:36.270 mission was not as effective or 08:36.280 --> 08:38.969 efficient as it needed to be . And as a 08:38.979 --> 08:41.450 Vietnam veteran himself , Secretary 08:41.460 --> 08:43.929 Hagel knew that this was unacceptable . 08:44.419 --> 08:46.349 So he directed my then colleague 08:46.359 --> 08:49.150 Michael Lumpkin to thoroughly review 08:49.219 --> 08:51.330 the department's personnel accounting 08:51.330 --> 08:53.760 efforts for past conflicts and to 08:53.770 --> 08:56.619 propose changes to improve them . The 08:56.630 --> 08:59.169 primary result of this effort was the 08:59.179 --> 09:02.719 creation of the defense Powmi a 09:02.729 --> 09:06.130 accounting agency in 2015 which brought 09:06.140 --> 09:08.890 together under one organizational roof . 09:08.900 --> 09:11.299 Almost all of the department's work to 09:11.309 --> 09:13.789 find and identify the missing from past 09:13.799 --> 09:16.929 conflicts . I was then under Secretary 09:16.940 --> 09:19.162 of Defense for Policy at the time and I 09:19.162 --> 09:22.580 oversaw the standing up of DP A which 09:22.590 --> 09:26.049 continues to report to the US DP . That 09:26.059 --> 09:28.049 experience gave me a special 09:28.059 --> 09:30.030 appreciation for the critical 09:30.039 --> 09:32.500 importance of DPAS work , the 09:32.510 --> 09:35.390 complexity of its organizations and the 09:35.400 --> 09:37.869 need for consistent and persistent 09:37.880 --> 09:40.510 engagement with all of the stakeholders . 09:40.840 --> 09:43.229 While the establishment of DP A was not 09:43.239 --> 09:45.599 without its challenges . I was very 09:45.609 --> 09:47.720 proud to be present at its creation . 09:48.270 --> 09:50.492 And when I returned to the Pentagon two 09:50.492 --> 09:52.603 years ago , after five years of being 09:52.603 --> 09:55.409 away , I was truly pleased to see all 09:55.419 --> 09:58.049 of the progress that DP A has made 09:58.059 --> 10:00.280 across the accounting mission . It's , 10:00.289 --> 10:02.233 it's really been remarkable . I've 10:02.233 --> 10:04.456 enjoyed seeing all the successes of the 10:04.456 --> 10:06.511 agency over the past several years . 10:06.669 --> 10:10.640 And just as an example , by 2018 DPA A 10:10.650 --> 10:12.761 had for the first time , successfully 10:12.761 --> 10:15.650 accounted for more than 200 10:15.659 --> 10:18.390 individuals . And those efforts were 10:18.400 --> 10:20.456 really accelerating at the time that 10:20.456 --> 10:22.700 the pandemic hit . And while COVID of 10:22.710 --> 10:25.419 course caused a significant disruption 10:25.429 --> 10:28.150 to DP A's mission , I know that the 10:28.159 --> 10:31.539 team has now regained momentum and 10:31.549 --> 10:34.210 that's really important because each of 10:34.219 --> 10:37.729 the more than 81,000 unaccounted for 10:37.739 --> 10:40.169 personnel from designated conflicts 10:40.349 --> 10:43.330 represent a family that has not 10:43.340 --> 10:45.549 received the answers that they need or 10:45.559 --> 10:48.260 the closure that they deserve . And we 10:48.270 --> 10:50.326 know that this matters because every 10:50.330 --> 10:53.090 month there are families who do receive 10:53.099 --> 10:55.043 the news that they have often been 10:55.043 --> 10:57.859 waiting decades to hear . This fiscal 10:57.869 --> 11:01.150 year alone . DP A has accounted for 81 11:01.159 --> 11:03.489 individuals including three from 11:03.500 --> 11:06.940 Vietnam , 26 from the Korean War and 11:06.950 --> 11:10.340 52 from World War Two . And each of the 11:10.349 --> 11:12.349 stories behind those individuals is 11:12.349 --> 11:15.260 remarkable . One of the accounted for 11:15.270 --> 11:17.789 service members from World War two was 11:17.799 --> 11:20.479 a soldier named Leroy Slier from El 11:20.489 --> 11:23.380 Segundo , California . Private slank 11:23.390 --> 11:25.760 served in the Philippines and was among 11:25.770 --> 11:27.770 the thousands of personnel who were 11:27.770 --> 11:30.320 reported captured when US forces in 11:30.330 --> 11:33.630 Bata surrendered to the Japanese . He 11:33.640 --> 11:35.750 was subjected to the unimaginable 11:35.760 --> 11:38.059 horror of the Baton death march and was 11:38.070 --> 11:40.940 held at a notorious pow camp where he 11:40.950 --> 11:43.619 reportedly died but his remains were 11:43.630 --> 11:47.289 never identified until DPA analysis 11:47.299 --> 11:49.229 of a disinterred grave in the 11:49.239 --> 11:52.479 Philippines returned a match . Now 11:52.489 --> 11:54.869 private slier will be given his final 11:54.880 --> 11:58.359 rest and full military honors and we in 11:58.369 --> 12:00.710 the army will be forever proud that the 12:00.719 --> 12:02.663 department brought home one of its 12:02.663 --> 12:05.590 missing soldiers this spring . There 12:05.599 --> 12:07.599 was another extraordinary discovery 12:07.599 --> 12:11.010 made possible by DPA A which identified 12:11.020 --> 12:13.559 the remains of army . Corporal Luther 12:13.570 --> 12:16.380 Story . A Korean Medal of Honor 12:16.390 --> 12:19.929 recipient Corporal Story's company came 12:19.940 --> 12:22.051 under a fierce daylight attack near a 12:22.051 --> 12:25.440 village in Korea on September 1st 1950 . 12:25.989 --> 12:28.330 His award citation states that he 12:28.340 --> 12:30.340 seized a machine gun from a wounded 12:30.349 --> 12:33.039 gunner and fired on the hostile forces 12:33.090 --> 12:37.000 killing over 100 enemy soldiers as the 12:37.010 --> 12:39.369 company withdrew . Corporal story was 12:39.380 --> 12:41.859 wounded but he disregarded his injuries 12:41.869 --> 12:44.091 and rallied his men around him to repel 12:44.091 --> 12:47.080 the attack . He chose to remain in the 12:47.090 --> 12:49.119 same position to help cover the 12:49.130 --> 12:52.039 company's withdrawal . He was last seen 12:52.049 --> 12:54.280 according to the citation , fighting , 12:54.289 --> 12:57.510 firing every weapon available and 12:57.520 --> 12:59.940 fighting off another hostile assault . 13:00.950 --> 13:03.109 Nine months after he was presumed to 13:03.119 --> 13:06.200 have been killed . General Omar Bradley 13:06.210 --> 13:08.590 presented Corporal Story's father with 13:08.599 --> 13:11.419 his son's medal of honor at a ceremony 13:11.429 --> 13:14.630 right here in the Pentagon . And more 13:14.640 --> 13:17.530 than 70 years after that on April 26 13:17.539 --> 13:20.150 this year , President Biden announced 13:20.159 --> 13:22.539 alongside the president of the Republic 13:22.549 --> 13:25.070 of Korea that Corporal story would be 13:25.080 --> 13:27.640 coming home to Georgia for his family 13:27.650 --> 13:30.010 to lay to rest this year on Memorial 13:30.020 --> 13:33.390 Day . These are just two examples of 13:33.400 --> 13:36.859 what DP A has accomplished through hard 13:36.869 --> 13:39.599 and painstaking work . And this makes a 13:39.609 --> 13:41.776 difference not just to the families of 13:41.776 --> 13:44.349 the missing and the fallen , but to all 13:44.359 --> 13:46.609 of our families and soldiers who are 13:46.619 --> 13:50.070 serving today as the exhibit in this , 13:50.080 --> 13:52.247 in the exhibit in this hallway . There 13:52.247 --> 13:55.469 is a panel devoted to the Powmi A flag 13:55.479 --> 13:58.320 which has for many decades embodied our 13:58.330 --> 14:00.441 nation's commitment to this mission . 14:01.090 --> 14:04.190 The panel says to ask a young troop why 14:04.200 --> 14:06.549 he or she is carrying the carefully 14:06.559 --> 14:08.859 folded flag on a mission in a far off 14:08.869 --> 14:11.710 country . Some of the troops have said , 14:11.719 --> 14:14.159 and I quote from the panel , it's just 14:14.169 --> 14:16.520 a reminder for us that the folks back 14:16.530 --> 14:19.890 home have not forgotten us . The team 14:19.900 --> 14:22.280 from DP A and the representatives of 14:22.289 --> 14:24.440 our veterans and family organizations 14:24.450 --> 14:27.219 here with us today know that we have a 14:27.229 --> 14:30.440 lot more work to do . Secretary Austin 14:30.450 --> 14:32.450 has called the accounting mission , 14:32.450 --> 14:35.640 both a monumental task and a sacred 14:35.650 --> 14:38.570 obligation . That's why he pledged last 14:38.580 --> 14:40.830 year that we will never stop working to 14:40.840 --> 14:43.130 find answers and to bring home our 14:43.150 --> 14:45.929 missing . It's also why it's so 14:45.940 --> 14:47.909 important that we come together to 14:47.919 --> 14:50.679 raise awareness by holding events such 14:50.690 --> 14:53.270 as today's poster unveiling and by 14:53.280 --> 14:55.447 learning the stories of those who were 14:55.447 --> 14:58.140 imprisoned or declared missing . And 14:58.150 --> 15:00.261 we're truly fortunate to have with us 15:00.261 --> 15:02.640 today . One of those heroes , thank you 15:02.650 --> 15:04.650 again , Colonel Brazelton for being 15:04.650 --> 15:06.789 here with us , with your family , for 15:06.799 --> 15:09.039 participating in this unveiling and for 15:09.049 --> 15:12.260 giving us such a powerful reminder of 15:12.270 --> 15:14.326 the sacrifices that our prisoners of 15:14.326 --> 15:16.437 war and missing in action have made . 15:17.030 --> 15:19.070 We're also grateful to the family 15:19.080 --> 15:21.247 members of the missing in action , for 15:21.247 --> 15:23.679 your faith , hope and resilience in 15:23.690 --> 15:25.912 seeking the return of your loved ones . 15:26.349 --> 15:28.330 We pledge never to forget their 15:28.340 --> 15:30.549 ultimate sacrifice and your right to 15:30.559 --> 15:33.880 answers and to all of the veteran and 15:33.890 --> 15:36.109 family group representatives who have 15:36.119 --> 15:38.450 worked so hard on this mission over the 15:38.460 --> 15:40.729 years . Thank you once again for the 15:40.739 --> 15:42.969 depth of your commitment to this cause 15:43.140 --> 15:45.549 and for always standing with the men 15:45.559 --> 15:47.750 and women who serve our country so 15:47.760 --> 15:48.349 bravely . 15:58.520 --> 16:00.631 Thank you , madam , Secretary at this 16:00.631 --> 16:02.719 time , Colonel Brazelton M Jeannie 16:02.729 --> 16:05.049 Huffman , Miss Pam Kane and Major 16:05.059 --> 16:07.190 Christina Roberts will join Secretary 16:07.200 --> 16:10.020 Warmth and Mr Mig to unveil this year's 16:10.030 --> 16:13.070 pow ma a recognition day poster . 16:23.890 --> 16:27.109 OK . I'll give you a count 123 , go . 16:42.559 --> 16:44.337 Thank you to our presenters and 16:44.337 --> 16:45.337 participants . 16:53.169 --> 16:54.169 I 16:57.380 --> 16:59.820 this year's theme of the poster focuses 16:59.830 --> 17:01.552 on not forgetting the ultimate 17:01.552 --> 17:04.270 sacrifice of more than 81,000 Americans 17:04.280 --> 17:07.050 who remain unaccounted for the iconic 17:07.060 --> 17:10.180 Powmi , a silhouette on the stadium 17:10.189 --> 17:12.550 chair reminds us not only , not only 17:12.560 --> 17:15.170 the heroes but their family sacrifices 17:15.479 --> 17:17.819 a lifetime of missed birthdays , ball 17:17.829 --> 17:20.430 games , graduations , weddings and the 17:20.439 --> 17:23.068 void left . The rose symbolizes the 17:23.078 --> 17:25.798 honor and respect owed by all citizens 17:25.808 --> 17:28.168 to those Americans who paid the last 17:28.178 --> 17:31.079 full measure of devotion . Finally , 17:31.130 --> 17:33.241 behind the chair stands , the service 17:33.241 --> 17:36.829 flags , the pow Mia flag and the United 17:36.839 --> 17:38.849 States flag to show that our armed 17:38.859 --> 17:41.760 forces today stand behind these heroes 17:41.770 --> 17:44.239 and our commitment to investigate , 17:44.329 --> 17:47.849 recover , identify and return them to 17:47.859 --> 17:50.081 their families . This year's observance 17:50.081 --> 17:52.869 is Friday , September 15 , ladies and 17:52.880 --> 17:54.824 gentlemen , this concludes today's 17:54.824 --> 17:56.547 ceremony . Thank you again for 17:56.547 --> 17:58.713 attending or tuning in via the web and 17:58.713 --> 18:00.602 for your continued support of our 18:00.602 --> 18:02.824 mission to provide the fullest possible 18:02.824 --> 18:04.491 accounting of our missing and 18:04.491 --> 18:05.420 unaccounted for . Thank you .