Atlanta Veterans Honor Sacrifice on National POW/MIA Recognition Day
By Gregory Kendall, Public Affairs Specialist
As communities across the country prepare to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day on September 19, two Atlanta Veterans share why the observance holds deep meaning for them — and why it should matter to every American.
Retired Army Sgt. Craig Lewis, who served in Vietnam and later became a high school football coach in Atlanta, said the black-and-white POW/MIA flag is more than just a symbol. “It’s a promise,” Lewis explained. “A promise that we’ll never forget those who were held captive or who never came home. Every year, this day reminds me that freedom is never free and that we still have work to do to bring our men and women in uniform back.”
For Denise Fuller, a U.S. Air Force Veteran from Decatur who deployed during Operation Desert Storm, POW/MIA Recognition Day is an opportunity to educate younger generations. “I bring my son and daughter to the POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Capitol every year,” Fuller said. “They need to see the flag raised, hear the names read, and understand the sacrifices made by people they’ll never meet. It keeps those stories alive.”
National POW/MIA Recognition Day was first established by Congress in 1979 and is observed nationwide on the third Friday of September.
For both Atlanta Veterans, it’s not simply a date on the calendar but a continuing mission. “Bringing our troops home is not just the military’s job — it’s a national responsibility,” said Lewis. “Until every service member is accounted for, our work isn’t done.”