BILLINGS — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6774 in the Billings Heights hosted its annual remembrance of missing military members on Friday night.
The post's commander, Chuck Carroll, says in many cases, the ceremony helps families remember a father, a son or a brother.
This and all ceremonies are important for veterans and citizens to pause and reflect.
"It's part of never forgetting," Carrol siad. "Never forget that there are people out there. Never forget that there are people who are never coming back. And never forget that we're all American citizens."
More than 82,000 American service members remain missing since World War II.
A table with empty chairs is part of the ceremony.
"This missing man table is symbolic of a lot of different things," said Carroll. "All the branches of the service and of the people. The civilians who also perished. And it's sort of a remembrance to them and a call for freedom."
Carroll said all VFW posts around the country host a POW MIA ceremony on third Friday of September.
