Veterans organization "Vietnam2Now" will hold its annual Day of Remembrance ceremony in northern Illinois. It's for prisoners of war who didn’t make it home. Member Michael Belinson says there are still people unaccounted for.
“The program itself, we have a list of 66 Illinois Vietnam veterans, since we are a Vietnam organization, Vietnam veterans who are still POWs and MIAs," he said.
That list was last updated in 2016, when Army Sgt. 1st Class Alan Boyer’s remains were found and returned to the United States. His mother had attended these remembrance ceremonies every year since 1996, but died in 2014. Belinson says these ceremonies are meant for families to remember those who have yet to be found.
“Gives them a little more positive feeling-- we’re still going to see him," he said.
Belinson says many Vietnam veterans groups closed due to funding scandals. So he says it’s important for his group to provide a venue for the more than 120 past attendees.
This is the 24th year that the group is holding the ceremony. It takes place Friday night in Loves Park City Hall.