"Lest we forget"

Courage. Bravery. Determination. They are simple words, alone, but together, they describe four men honored during the Alaska POW/MIA Day ceremony Friday afternoon.

Bill Plate, Walt Fergus, Larry Laurence, and vacationing Paul Wilson, were honored Friday by a large crowd that gathered under blue skies at the Veterans' Wall of Honor. With the military on full alert, the ceremony took on even more meaning.

Prior to the ceremony, a special ceremony was held to honor those affected by the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.

"Make no mistake about it. That is a war scene, and we have more than 6,000 Americans missing in action," said Charlie Huggins, an event organizer, during his opening remarks.

The Rev. David Dahms gave a spiritual invocation, which was followed by the presentation of the Alaska, American and POW/MIA flags. The latter was hoisted by Fergus, who spent 93 days in captivity in Germany during World War II.

Adele Morgan gave a rousing rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, followed by a narrative from Bert Hall about the attack on America. Dahms, Rabbi Abraham Garmaize of Temple Knesset Israel and Pastor Larry Kroon of Wasilla Bible Church then offered prayers during the clergy reflection on the attack.

After the reflections, John Morrissey briefly talked about Mount POW/MIA, a mountain renamed in honor of those who are missing in action and were prisoners of war. It is the "tallest and largest memorial in the world," Morrissey said.

The former prisoners of war were then honored in a ceremony by Leo Kaye, a local veteran. Along with fellow veteran Ed Lynch, Kaye presented a special lithograph to each of the former prisoners of war.

Following a benediction, Morgan led the crowd in "America The Beautiful." The crowd rose for the final verse, and together, sang the patriotic song.

Huggins then drew the ceremony to a close.

"As a former special ops guy, this thing started on time and it is going to end on time," Huggins said.

"I challenge each and every one to shake these men's hands and thank them for what they have given this country," Huggins added.

The ceremony was the first of its kind locally.

"I'd like to thank Charlie for this wonderful ceremony. He has worked hard to have this, and we need to remember all of our veterans, all the time," Kaye said.