American Legion Post 209 honors POWs, MIAs
American Legion Post 209 commander Richard Radder demonstrates the 13 folds of the American flag.
MOSES LAKE - More than 20 veterans and guests gathered Friday behind American Legion Post 209's headquarters in Moses Lake, to pay homage to local and national prisoners of war and those who were missing in action.
"The American flag reminds us that many of them may never return, and have paid the supreme sacrifice to ensure our freedom," reads Legion member Rex Rogers.
Earlier in the day, a small group of Legion members assembled at Blue Heron Park for a short remembrance ride in their cars, trucks and motorcycles to post 209's headquarters.
The ceremony started at 11 a.m., with post commander Richard Radder serving as the emcee for the memorial service.
A single empty coffin laid to the right of the podium, adorned with an American flag to pay tribute to those whose bodies were never recovered from foreign wars.
A POW/MIA flag was placed to the podium's left.
The ceremony started with the singing of the national anthem and a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of "Taps" on trumpets by legion members.
After the salute and Taps, the service came to a solemn pause.
The group paused for a moment of silence, followed by the ringing of a bell, to pay tribute to Douglas Strait, a Moses Lake man who is presumed to have died in Vietnam, and whose body was never recovered.
The ceremony also featured an "empty chair ceremony," which is designed to symbolize the members of the armed forces who are or were missing in combat.
To conclude the ceremony, Legion members demonstrated and explained the 13 folds of the American flag.
The demonstration consists of 13 distinct folds of the flag, with each fold having an explanation.
"After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it has the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones, who were followed by their shipmates in the U.S. Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today," according to the Legion's website.
After the service, legion members reminisced about their experiences of service and the hardships that POWs and MIAs endured.