Iva Jo Hanslik, community relations coordinator for WTVAHCS, said the center honored area POWs with a program and luncheon at the Big Spring Country Club.

Hanslik said comments and activities at the event were very moving.

“It totally reassures me why we are here serving our veterans,” she said.

Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas W. Dobbs of Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo was the featured speaker during the event and he talked about continuing efforts to return and identify missing or captured U.S. soldiers.

“Our POWs, MIAs and their loved ones are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice,” Dobbs said. “As we go about our daily lives and enjoy the blessings of liberty, we must never forget that there are others who have endured, and indeed may still be enduring, the agony of torture, deprivation and separation from family and friends.

“Today's event commemorates the service and sacrifice of our honored guests ... and many thousands of other families who have endured similar hardships for our nation,” he added.

Dr. Chris Bacorn , interim medical center director, noted that 142,000 soldiers haver been captured and held as POWs since World War I. Of that number, 20,000 survive today.

The Joint Services Color Guard from Goodfellow presented the colors and also performed the Missing Man ceremony.

“The active duty personnel who attended the ceremony were remarkable,” Hanslik said. “They not only looked and acted professionally, but the Missing Man ceremony was also very moving ... and Lt. Col. Dobbs' comments were just awesome.”

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it