MCC pays tribute with POW/MIA flag-raising ceremony
Reflecting on the service of others, MCCers Joseph Knight, Dr. Cedric Gathings, and MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner address the audience at the POW/MIA flag raising.
Honoring those who have sacrificially given and their families, Meridian Community College hosted a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag-raising ceremony with campus and community turning out in front of Ivy-Scaggs Hall.
"The least we can do is honor, remember, grieve alongside, and be thankful for the service members who were willing to stand in the gap for us," said MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner as he spoke to the audience.
Citing U.S. Department of Defense statistics, Dr. Huebner said 81,900 Americans remain missing from armed conflicts involving U.S. military personnel. "One hundred and forty-one thousand: that's the approximate military personnel who have been prisoners of war since World War I," he said.
"For a second, consider the trauma experienced by families of soldiers who never returned – no welcome back, no closure. They're stuck in the place between pain and hope. And as each year passes, the scales tip toward losing hope," he said.
Dr. Huebner added, "We see the flag, but please, today, look at the flag. The symbols are powerful; they serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many."
Dr. Cedric Gathings, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, welcomed the audience at the flag plaza. "As we reflect, let us not forget their courage and the ultimate price they paid for our freedom."
As "Taps" was played by Chris King, director of bands, the POW/MIA flag and the United States flag were raised.
To learn more about the College's resources for veterans, visit meridiancc.edu/vets.