1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,480 Joining us for the 2021 Department of 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,647 Defense Prisoner of War and Missing in 3 00:00:04,647 --> 00:00:06,591 Action Recognition Day ceremony in 4 00:00:06,591 --> 00:00:08,813 honor of our prisoners of war and those 5 00:00:08,813 --> 00:00:10,980 still missing in action . The ceremony 6 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:13,202 will begin momentarily . Please silence 7 00:00:13,202 --> 00:00:15,313 all electronic devices and remove any 8 00:00:15,313 --> 00:00:16,313 badges . 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:27,860 Oh . 10 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:34,550 Mhm mhm 11 00:00:42,540 --> 00:00:42,860 Okay 12 00:00:50,540 --> 00:00:51,260 signs 13 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:01,440 since . 14 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:08,250 Mhm mhm 15 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,660 Yeah . Yes . Mhm 16 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,260 trump . Mm 17 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,340 uh huh . Yeah 18 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:47,960 yeah 19 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,960 yeah . Ladies and gentlemen please 20 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,071 stand for the arrival of the official 21 00:02:04,071 --> 00:02:05,960 party and remain standing for the 22 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,182 national anthem performed by ambassador 23 00:02:08,182 --> 00:02:10,349 gunnery sergeant kevin senior from the 24 00:02:10,349 --> 00:02:12,349 United States Marine Band . And the 25 00:02:12,349 --> 00:02:14,127 indication delivered by Chaplin 26 00:02:14,127 --> 00:02:15,682 commander thomas flanagan . 27 00:02:30,340 --> 00:02:33,790 Oh say can you 28 00:02:33,790 --> 00:02:37,240 see why the 29 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,850 dorms the lot . 30 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,090 Mm What's so probably 31 00:02:45,090 --> 00:02:48,430 we hate Canada but 32 00:02:48,490 --> 00:02:52,360 twilight's last levy 33 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,580 whose broad stripes and bright 34 00:02:57,580 --> 00:03:01,440 stars Through the parable . 35 00:03:01,450 --> 00:03:05,240 Lost five or 36 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,960 the run parts we watch . 37 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,340 We're so God Unpleased . three 38 00:03:13,340 --> 00:03:17,000 me and the 39 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,640 roar cats regular . Yeah 40 00:03:20,850 --> 00:03:24,360 bombs bursting it . 41 00:03:24,740 --> 00:03:28,310 Yeah april those are 42 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,170 not I but off the leg 43 00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:36,050 was still there . 44 00:03:36,540 --> 00:03:40,010 Yeah . Oh say does 45 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:43,980 that star spangled banner 46 00:03:43,980 --> 00:03:47,760 yet ? Wave . Mhm Okay . 47 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,460 For the lad of the 48 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:56,660 free 49 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,930 and the home of the 50 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:02,050 brave . Mhm . 51 00:04:03,940 --> 00:04:05,160 Okay 52 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:20,050 let us pray 53 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,080 eternal father . Today we lift our 54 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,770 hearts and prayers to you for these 55 00:04:28,770 --> 00:04:31,430 sons and daughters of our nation who 56 00:04:31,430 --> 00:04:33,640 preserved our freedoms and our missing 57 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,750 in action and those who paid the 58 00:04:35,750 --> 00:04:38,880 ultimate price they spent themselves 59 00:04:38,890 --> 00:04:42,330 without reserve for our protection and 60 00:04:42,330 --> 00:04:45,330 will never be forgotten . Lord we ask 61 00:04:45,330 --> 00:04:47,274 that you embrace their souls as we 62 00:04:47,274 --> 00:04:49,400 humbly pray in thanksgiving for these 63 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,260 heroes and all the gifts and blessings 64 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:54,427 that you have bestowed on our nation , 65 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,780 The United States of America reward 66 00:04:57,780 --> 00:04:59,724 with your strength and fortitude . 67 00:05:00,070 --> 00:05:02,990 Those who exercise the corporal works 68 00:05:02,990 --> 00:05:05,460 of mercy and repatriating our heroes . 69 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:09,480 These teams share an intense desire and 70 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,680 a seemingly fathomless capacity to use 71 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,847 their knowledge , skills and abilities 72 00:05:14,847 --> 00:05:16,910 to seek in return . Those missing in 73 00:05:16,910 --> 00:05:19,960 action and those lost on land and sea 74 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,160 to bring closure for parents , spouses , 75 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,530 family and friends who mourn enable us 76 00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:28,850 all to bring comfort to those who 77 00:05:28,850 --> 00:05:31,130 grieve . But the consolation that you 78 00:05:31,130 --> 00:05:34,210 alone can give , strengthen the bonds 79 00:05:34,210 --> 00:05:37,490 that we share and confirm us in faith , 80 00:05:37,540 --> 00:05:40,540 hope and charity , so that we may 81 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:43,680 manifest your piece to one another . We 82 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,680 ask this in your holy name . Amen . 83 00:05:55,340 --> 00:05:56,396 Please be seated . 84 00:06:00,140 --> 00:06:02,420 Ladies and gentlemen , General john 85 00:06:02,420 --> 00:06:04,642 heighten the Vice Chairman of the Joint 86 00:06:04,642 --> 00:06:05,642 Chiefs of Staff . 87 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,860 Mhm . Well , good morning Mr Secretary 88 00:06:14,340 --> 00:06:17,560 distinguished guests Mr Mills honor to 89 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,449 meet you sir . Especially all the 90 00:06:19,449 --> 00:06:21,504 former POWs and their loved ones and 91 00:06:21,504 --> 00:06:23,671 the family members of those missing in 92 00:06:23,671 --> 00:06:25,260 action . Thank you for all 93 00:06:25,260 --> 00:06:27,371 participating in the ceremony with us 94 00:06:27,371 --> 00:06:29,750 this morning . On the hallowed ground 95 00:06:29,750 --> 00:06:31,917 of us , military cemeteries around the 96 00:06:31,917 --> 00:06:34,860 world , rest many unidentified american 97 00:06:34,860 --> 00:06:37,390 service members laying beneath grave 98 00:06:37,390 --> 00:06:40,740 markers upon which is etched here rests 99 00:06:40,750 --> 00:06:43,540 in honored glory . A comrade in arms , 100 00:06:43,550 --> 00:06:47,140 known but to God to all those former 101 00:06:47,150 --> 00:06:49,500 prisoners of war . Those missing in 102 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:53,170 action , those that endured so much the 103 00:06:53,170 --> 00:06:55,550 pain , hunger and isolation , the 104 00:06:55,550 --> 00:06:57,910 mental torment , sometimes physical 105 00:06:57,910 --> 00:06:59,910 torture that pushed you to the very 106 00:06:59,910 --> 00:07:02,390 brink . You represent the best in all 107 00:07:02,390 --> 00:07:04,890 of us . You are the epitome of 108 00:07:04,890 --> 00:07:06,890 resiliency and dedication to duty . 109 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,640 Many of you even continued to serve 110 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,751 after your captivity and we thank you 111 00:07:11,751 --> 00:07:14,370 for your sacrifice . We're also 112 00:07:14,370 --> 00:07:16,426 grateful to the men and women of the 113 00:07:16,426 --> 00:07:18,890 defense POW MIA accounting agency who 114 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:21,001 vowed to provide the fullest possible 115 00:07:21,001 --> 00:07:23,057 accounting for our missing personnel 116 00:07:23,057 --> 00:07:25,830 and their families and the nation . In 117 00:07:25,830 --> 00:07:28,250 my last job at the U . S . Strategic 118 00:07:28,250 --> 00:07:30,250 Command at Offutt Air Force Base in 119 00:07:30,250 --> 00:07:32,590 Nebraska , my wife , Laura and I got to 120 00:07:32,590 --> 00:07:35,670 visit one of the D PA labs . Actually 121 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,250 Laura a whole lot more than me and see 122 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:40,250 the work of these amazing people up 123 00:07:40,250 --> 00:07:42,417 close its members commit their blood , 124 00:07:42,417 --> 00:07:44,528 their sweat , their tears to bringing 125 00:07:44,528 --> 00:07:46,930 our fellow americans home a mission 126 00:07:46,930 --> 00:07:49,690 they fully embrace . I thank all those 127 00:07:49,690 --> 00:07:51,523 who have shown the same level of 128 00:07:51,523 --> 00:07:53,801 dedication to the GPA's solemn mission , 129 00:07:54,710 --> 00:07:56,543 Sadly 10s of thousands are still 130 00:07:56,543 --> 00:07:59,340 missing . There are no words of comfort 131 00:07:59,340 --> 00:08:01,451 or solace that can fill the void of a 132 00:08:01,451 --> 00:08:03,490 missing loved one . The pain that 133 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:06,960 brings can be at sometimes overwhelming . 134 00:08:07,540 --> 00:08:09,540 But what we can do is remember what 135 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:11,596 they fought for , remember what they 136 00:08:11,596 --> 00:08:13,762 sacrificed . Remember what wearing the 137 00:08:13,762 --> 00:08:16,100 cloth of this country signifies and 138 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:19,850 remember why we fight all of us 139 00:08:19,850 --> 00:08:23,150 in uniform . I took an oath an oath of 140 00:08:23,150 --> 00:08:25,320 allegiance where we swore to support 141 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,264 and defend the constitution of the 142 00:08:27,264 --> 00:08:29,320 United States of America . We're the 143 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,320 only military I know of that swears 144 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,970 it's oath of allegiance to an idea and 145 00:08:33,970 --> 00:08:36,390 for that idea we in uniform not only 146 00:08:36,390 --> 00:08:38,620 swear to protect but are willing to lay 147 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:41,860 down our lives , we're willing to be 148 00:08:41,860 --> 00:08:44,082 missing in action . We're willing to be 149 00:08:44,082 --> 00:08:46,082 a prisoner of war , were willing to 150 00:08:46,082 --> 00:08:48,193 sacrifice our lives so that americans 151 00:08:48,193 --> 00:08:50,416 of every generation to come will remain 152 00:08:50,416 --> 00:08:54,370 free . We will go to any length to 153 00:08:54,370 --> 00:08:57,240 bring you home . We will scour , every 154 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,540 inch of land will dive . Every shore 155 00:08:59,890 --> 00:09:01,890 will plunge into every depth of the 156 00:09:01,890 --> 00:09:04,112 pacific in the atlantic well comb every 157 00:09:04,112 --> 00:09:06,334 bit of the korean and italian peninsula 158 00:09:06,334 --> 00:09:08,557 is the unmarked , great unmarked graves 159 00:09:08,557 --> 00:09:10,940 from Belgium to Burma and we will find 160 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:13,560 you , we will never forget and we will 161 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,850 never leave a fallen comrade . Thank 162 00:09:16,850 --> 00:09:19,430 you and thank you to your families for 163 00:09:19,430 --> 00:09:21,900 their sacrifice and may , God bless 164 00:09:21,910 --> 00:09:24,490 each and every one of you . It's not my 165 00:09:24,490 --> 00:09:26,379 privilege to introduce to you the 166 00:09:26,379 --> 00:09:28,620 Secretary of Defense . The honourable 167 00:09:28,770 --> 00:09:29,770 Lloyd Austin . 168 00:09:35,140 --> 00:09:36,140 Mhm . 169 00:09:49,540 --> 00:09:51,460 Yeah , here we go . 170 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:55,050 Yeah . Oh 171 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,462 Mr Mills . It's a real pleasure to meet 172 00:10:02,462 --> 00:10:04,920 you . Thanks for being here , Rachael 173 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,610 Lamar . Thank Okay , good morning 174 00:10:08,610 --> 00:10:11,950 everyone . General Hayden , thanks for 175 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,310 the kind introduction and for being 176 00:10:15,310 --> 00:10:17,610 here today to mark this special 177 00:10:17,610 --> 00:10:20,750 occasion . It's also great to see 178 00:10:20,750 --> 00:10:23,080 Secretary Dennis Mcdonald from the 179 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,900 Department of Veterans Affairs and so 180 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:27,750 many friends and partners of the 181 00:10:27,750 --> 00:10:29,694 Department of Defense . Thanks for 182 00:10:29,694 --> 00:10:33,210 being here . We're all here 183 00:10:33,210 --> 00:10:37,140 because of a shared commitment on 184 00:10:37,140 --> 00:10:40,420 national POW M I . A recognition day . 185 00:10:40,420 --> 00:10:43,980 We come together as a nation to honor 186 00:10:43,980 --> 00:10:47,050 all those who served all those who were 187 00:10:47,050 --> 00:10:50,920 held captive and return home and to 188 00:10:50,930 --> 00:10:53,120 pay tribute to those who remain 189 00:10:53,130 --> 00:10:57,100 unaccounted for and to stand by all 190 00:10:57,110 --> 00:10:59,080 of our P . O . W . And M . I . A . 191 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:03,030 Families . We know 192 00:11:03,030 --> 00:11:06,250 that the missing and the return are in 193 00:11:06,250 --> 00:11:08,417 the hearts of their families and loved 194 00:11:08,417 --> 00:11:12,350 ones today and every day 195 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:15,850 they're in our hearts as well . 196 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:19,929 And I'm honored to welcome to the 197 00:11:19,929 --> 00:11:22,040 pentagon former POWs and their loved 198 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:23,873 ones and family members of those 199 00:11:23,873 --> 00:11:27,580 missing in action . We're humbled by 200 00:11:27,580 --> 00:11:31,480 your sacrifice and your resilience . So 201 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,258 thanks for being here with us . 202 00:11:35,340 --> 00:11:37,562 We still feel the pain of those missing 203 00:11:37,562 --> 00:11:39,960 from conflicts fought generations ago 204 00:11:41,340 --> 00:11:43,530 and we share the uncertainty that many 205 00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:47,370 of you endure . We also thank 206 00:11:47,370 --> 00:11:50,850 you for your advocacy and involvement 207 00:11:50,850 --> 00:11:54,070 in our work to recover our fallen in 208 00:11:54,070 --> 00:11:57,940 our missing today . 209 00:11:57,950 --> 00:12:01,310 More than 81,900 U.S . 210 00:12:01,310 --> 00:12:03,260 personnel remain unaccounted for 211 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,850 Including more than 72,000 from World 212 00:12:07,850 --> 00:12:11,540 War II And more than 7500 from the 213 00:12:11,540 --> 00:12:14,110 Korean War and more than 1500 from the 214 00:12:14,110 --> 00:12:15,060 Vietnam War . 215 00:12:17,940 --> 00:12:20,540 Many of them missing are lost deep at 216 00:12:20,540 --> 00:12:24,060 sea . But our experts estimate that 217 00:12:24,060 --> 00:12:26,450 some 38,000 may be recoverable . 218 00:12:28,540 --> 00:12:30,596 So we still have a lot of work to do 219 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:35,560 and we see each case as a sacred pact . 220 00:12:38,140 --> 00:12:40,140 Well , I was in Hawaii last april I 221 00:12:40,140 --> 00:12:42,196 visited with our team at the Defense 222 00:12:42,196 --> 00:12:45,800 Pow Mia accounting agency . And it 223 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,100 absolutely astounded me to see 224 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:50,530 firsthand the links that they go 225 00:12:50,530 --> 00:12:52,700 through to identify and return to 226 00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:55,580 families . The remains of so many of 227 00:12:55,580 --> 00:12:59,280 our fallen from so many 228 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:00,960 conflicts overseas . 229 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,950 It's painstaking work and in some cases 230 00:13:06,950 --> 00:13:10,350 it's dangerous but they know how much 231 00:13:10,350 --> 00:13:13,100 it means to you and to our fellow 232 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:16,350 citizens and they do it with care and 233 00:13:16,350 --> 00:13:20,170 compassion but also with a deeply felt 234 00:13:20,170 --> 00:13:22,170 desire to honor the service and the 235 00:13:22,170 --> 00:13:25,480 sacrifice of those who gave their lives 236 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,480 defending this nation . This 237 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,536 year alone D . P . A . Has accounted 238 00:13:31,536 --> 00:13:33,860 for 135 U . S . Personnel 239 00:13:35,540 --> 00:13:39,400 one from the Vietnam War 13 from the 240 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,050 Korean War in 121 from World War II . 241 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,170 And in the past six years D . P . A . 242 00:13:47,170 --> 00:13:50,500 Has identified 352 unknowns from the U . 243 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:53,550 S . S . Oklahoma which as you know , 244 00:13:53,550 --> 00:13:55,660 was sunk in Pearl harbor . 245 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,407 And just this past Monday on September 246 00:14:00,407 --> 00:14:04,200 13 Army sergeant john phillips 247 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,150 was buried at Arlington National 248 00:14:06,150 --> 00:14:09,940 Cemetery decades after he 249 00:14:09,940 --> 00:14:13,290 died in a pow camp in the Philippines . 250 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,351 After so many years of uncertainty we 251 00:14:18,351 --> 00:14:20,296 were honored and moved to have his 252 00:14:20,296 --> 00:14:23,470 family join us as he was laid to rest 253 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,750 and receive the honors 254 00:14:27,540 --> 00:14:29,060 that he deeply deserved . 255 00:14:31,730 --> 00:14:34,400 In july another m a family gathered at 256 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,960 Arlington Army , Major Army 257 00:14:37,970 --> 00:14:40,300 Major Harvey Storms was killed in 258 00:14:40,300 --> 00:14:43,200 December of 1950 and one of the 259 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,256 harshest battles of the korean war . 260 00:14:46,540 --> 00:14:48,540 His remains were turned over by the 261 00:14:48,540 --> 00:14:50,620 North by North Korea in 2018 and 262 00:14:50,620 --> 00:14:54,600 identified by D . P . A . Now 263 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,767 major storms . Had four sons including 264 00:14:56,767 --> 00:14:59,540 his youngest who was born after his 265 00:14:59,540 --> 00:15:03,420 father went missing and all of his sons 266 00:15:03,420 --> 00:15:05,531 were at Arlington with their families 267 00:15:06,340 --> 00:15:09,360 when major storms was finally laid to 268 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,810 rest . And then 269 00:15:12,810 --> 00:15:16,360 there's Naval Reserve Commander 270 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:21,250 Paul Sharpe paul was an 271 00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:24,960 A . H . A . One H pilot skywriter 272 00:15:25,740 --> 00:15:28,480 Which plane was shot down over Vietnam 273 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,980 in March of 1967 . Last 274 00:15:31,980 --> 00:15:35,130 september a Vietnamese team recovered 275 00:15:35,130 --> 00:15:37,740 his remains and B . O . D . Scientists 276 00:15:37,740 --> 00:15:39,700 identified him this past March , 277 00:15:39,710 --> 00:15:42,670 bringing his family long awaited 278 00:15:42,670 --> 00:15:46,470 answers . You know , in a 279 00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:48,760 sense that's what we still seek 280 00:15:50,340 --> 00:15:54,290 answers to . Simple questions where 281 00:15:54,290 --> 00:15:57,760 are they and when can they come home ? 282 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,120 And that's why we fly the black and 283 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,590 white flag of the National League of P . 284 00:16:05,590 --> 00:16:09,520 O . W . M . I . A . Families . And 285 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,687 that's why we commemorate this special 286 00:16:11,687 --> 00:16:15,060 day to remember 287 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,800 to remember the fallen the captured and 288 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,210 the missing . To remember the 289 00:16:24,210 --> 00:16:26,260 families who still wait for them 290 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,930 and to remember our solemn duty to 291 00:16:31,930 --> 00:16:34,350 answering those simple questions 292 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,390 into bringing home those who left these 293 00:16:39,390 --> 00:16:40,770 shores so long ago . 294 00:16:43,340 --> 00:16:46,770 The flags message is still a call to 295 00:16:46,770 --> 00:16:50,650 arms . You are not forgotten 296 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,862 and it's on all of us to make sure that 297 00:16:54,862 --> 00:16:57,140 are missing and their families know it . 298 00:16:58,740 --> 00:17:00,907 So let me again thank the families and 299 00:17:00,907 --> 00:17:03,018 loved ones . Those here with us today 300 00:17:03,018 --> 00:17:05,184 and those who are joining us virtually 301 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,470 You have faced absence . You have 302 00:17:10,470 --> 00:17:14,240 faced uncertainty and you have faced 303 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,930 loss and 304 00:17:17,930 --> 00:17:20,580 we are inspired by the strength that 305 00:17:20,580 --> 00:17:23,930 you've shown day in and day out . And 306 00:17:23,930 --> 00:17:26,890 we will always honor the service and 307 00:17:26,890 --> 00:17:29,120 the sacrifice that your loved ones 308 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:32,860 have given our great country . 309 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,770 We stand with you and we always will 310 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,270 thank you and God bless you . 311 00:17:45,540 --> 00:17:46,540 Mhm . 312 00:17:50,940 --> 00:17:51,940 Okay . 313 00:17:56,120 --> 00:17:57,898 Would all families representing 314 00:17:57,898 --> 00:17:59,731 prisoners of war and those still 315 00:17:59,731 --> 00:18:01,898 missing in action ? Please stand to be 316 00:18:01,898 --> 00:18:03,842 honored with a moment of silence . 317 00:18:25,140 --> 00:18:27,362 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 318 00:18:27,362 --> 00:18:29,418 the benediction delivered by Chaplin 319 00:18:29,418 --> 00:18:31,770 commander , thomas flanagan . Yeah , 320 00:18:41,740 --> 00:18:45,200 better spray merciful 321 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,300 father . We are comforted and 322 00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:50,040 strengthened by your grace that makes 323 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,170 us steadfast in all our trials 324 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,744 those we honour today received the 325 00:18:55,744 --> 00:18:57,856 peace that they sought in this life , 326 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,230 ensure that these reflections in 327 00:19:00,230 --> 00:19:01,897 Kendall in us . The desire to 328 00:19:01,897 --> 00:19:04,420 rededicate our efforts in your service 329 00:19:05,140 --> 00:19:08,250 continue to bless those who , through 330 00:19:08,250 --> 00:19:10,910 their leadership operations and teams 331 00:19:10,910 --> 00:19:13,550 around the world , make countless 332 00:19:13,550 --> 00:19:16,480 personal sacrifices and take courageous 333 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,647 actions for the sake of the Republic . 334 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:22,270 In your wisdom , we asked that you 335 00:19:22,270 --> 00:19:24,103 continue to deepen our faith and 336 00:19:24,103 --> 00:19:26,680 strengthen our fortitude , thereby 337 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:28,513 equipping us to respond with the 338 00:19:28,513 --> 00:19:31,450 highest ideals and greatest strength 339 00:19:32,340 --> 00:19:34,507 and never tire in our efforts to bring 340 00:19:34,507 --> 00:19:36,673 forth decisions that lead to authentic 341 00:19:36,673 --> 00:19:39,280 and lasting peace . Gracious Lord 342 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,610 continue to bless our country , those 343 00:19:41,610 --> 00:19:44,190 who serve and all who strive to bring 344 00:19:44,190 --> 00:19:46,468 truth and freedom throughout the world . 345 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:48,850 The United States of America always 346 00:19:48,850 --> 00:19:51,410 reflect your direction , established 347 00:19:51,420 --> 00:19:53,587 peace among those of goodwill and pass 348 00:19:53,587 --> 00:19:55,809 from victory to victory against all who 349 00:19:55,809 --> 00:19:58,690 oppose the truth . Grant confusion to 350 00:19:58,690 --> 00:20:01,350 our enemies . Bless those forward 351 00:20:01,350 --> 00:20:04,520 deployed our loved ones and those who 352 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:06,920 could not be with us . Here today we 353 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,860 ask this in your holy name . Amen 354 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,751 Ladies and Gentlemen , this concludes 355 00:20:22,751 --> 00:20:25,190 the Department of Defense 2021 prisoner 356 00:20:25,190 --> 00:20:26,801 of war and missing in action 357 00:20:26,801 --> 00:20:28,930 recognition day ceremony . Thank you 358 00:20:28,930 --> 00:20:29,760 for joining us .