Meridian Community College administrators gathered in front of Ivy Scaggs Hall on Friday to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day with a brief ceremony and flag raising.

POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed annually on the third Friday in September and is set aside to honor military service members who were prisoners of war, as well as those who are still considered missing in action. Cedric Gathings, vice president of student affairs and dean of students at MCC, said Friday’s ceremony was held to recognize the heavy cost paid by POW and MIA families.

“Today we honor the brave men and women, prisoners of war and those missing in action,” he said. “As we reflect, let us not forget their courage than the ultimate price paid for our freedom.”

MCC President Thomas Huebner said everyone has had a family member leave, but few know the pain of having them never return and not knowing why.

“We’ve all had family members leave. Maybe they’ve moved away, gone to school, taken a trip, even left for work, and when they leave, we rarely consider whether or not they will return. In our minds, it’s usually a given,” he said. “But for a second, consider the trauma experienced by families of soldiers who never returned.”

Approximately 81,900 U.S. soldiers are still missing from conflicts, Huebner said. An additional 141,000 have been prisoners of war since World War I, he said.

In observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Huebner encouraged those who see the flag on the flag pole to stop and think about the freedoms Americans enjoy and the sacrifices made by both soldiers and their families to ensure those freedoms are passed to future generations.

“While we wish a holiday like today didn’t have to happen, the least we can do is honor, remember and grieve alongside and be thankful for the service members who were willing to stand in the gap for us,” he said.