The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter Chapter #278 will hold their 31st annual POW-MIA Vigil Friday, Sept. 21, and Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Korea-Vietnam Memorial in downtown Texarkana.
The memorial, which was built and completed 30 years ago, is located at the West Seventh Street and North State Line Avenue intersection.
The two-day vigil's purpose is to honor and remember those military veterans who were-as well as those who still are-classified as either Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.
Besides honoring and remembering those POWs and MIAs still unaccounted for, as well as those who have returned home, the vigil's purpose is to raise awareness of this issue and to let the families of these military service men and women know that they aren't alone in their quest for answers and for closure.
During the vigil's first day, which conicides with National POW-MIA Recognition Day, opening ceremonies are tentatively set to start at around 5:13 p.m. That same evening there will a closing candlelight service starting
at 8 p.m.
The following day there will be the 24th Annual "Ride to Remember"event. This event calls for all participating street legal motorcycles, cars, trucks and big rigs to depart from the Arkansas Welcome Center on Interstate 30 near the Red River at 2:40 p.m. and proceed south on U.S. Highway 71 for about a 20-minute journey to the memorial site. The caravan will arrive about 3 p.m. No drugs, alcohol or attitudes will be allowed at this event.
Once the caravan passes the memorial site, there will be a release of about 170 helium balloons in recognition of about 170 American service men and women still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. All 170 of the service members, are collectively from either Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma or Texas.
Following the balloon release, there will be a POW-MIA Remembrance Service starting about 3:10 p.m.
Like the first day's events, the second day will also feature a closing candlelight service starting at 8 p.m.
The vigil is open to the public. For more information, call 870-773-8279, 903-628-7216, 903-824-2727 or 903-556-1613.