Mangano To Host Annual POW/MIA Candlelight Ceremony At Eisenhower Park On September 24th

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano will preside at the annual Candlelight Ceremony observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Saturday, September 24th at 6:45 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial located in Eisenhower Park.

“We honor the sacrifice of prisoners of war and those who have gone missing under our nation’s flag and the families that have been left behind” said County Executive Mangano. “A promise is given for those who wear the uniform of the United States that no one will be forgotten or left behind. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is about keeping that promise through this special day of remembrance for the safe return of American Prisoners of War and those still missing in action.”

County Executive Mangano will be joined by representatives of veterans’ organizations from throughout Nassau County, as well as elected officials, clergy and American ex-prisoners of war. Guest speakers will include George Sullivan (USMC), Navy Cross Recipient; Hon. Robert M. Blakeman, and Mr. Ron Zoeller. The solemn ceremony will feature the reading of the names of all POW/MIAs from Nassau and Suffolk.

The Vietnam War Veterans Association will display a Bamboo Cage, which symbolizes the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established by an Act of Congress in 1998. It is one of six days that the POW/MIA flag can be flown. There are 74,074 unaccounted service members from World War II; 8,028 from Korea; 1,713 from Vietnam; 912 from the Gulf War and 2 from the War on Terror.

Eisenhower Park, operated by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, is located in East Meadow, with entrances on Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Avenue.

For further information, please contact the Parks Public Information Office at (516) 572-0200 or visit the website at: www.nassaucountyny.gov.