The American Legion held its 2023 POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony on Sunday, June 4, on top of Prospect Mountain in Lake George. This is the 54th year people have driven up the Veterans Memorial Parkway to honor and remember the more than 80,000 service members who are missing. The service is held annually on the first Sunday of June.
American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders and Christian Motorcycle Association Riders rode up the mountain, many flying American flags from their bikes. They formed a flag line that stretched across the ceremony area overlooking Lake George.
In opening remarks, Warren County American Legion Commander Donald Keenan reminded those in attendance that June 6 is the 79th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France “Where over 4,000 soldiers died, and we’re still recovering MIAs and POWs to this day.”
The Johnsburg Central School and Warrensburg Jr./Sr. High School bands performed “God Bless America” and the” Armed Forces Medley” while the Johnsburg Flag Detail performed. Caroline Williams of Johnsburg Central sang the National Anthem.
Guest speaker George LaPoint, an Environmental Conservation Officer and Honor Guard, noted that many driving up Veteran’s Memorial Parkway may not notice the name of the road, but “thousands of people year-round travel to this very highway to gaze out at America and take in her beauty. They may not read the road sign, but atop this mountain, they bask in the freedom generations of American veterans have fought for, and sadly, many of those folks who come here have forgotten the cost of this freedom.”
“We gather atop this Veteran’s Memorial Highway to remember those prisoners of war, those missing in action, whatever war they served in, whatever country they are in, deceased or living, we pray for their return. Until that day, we gather, we remember, we do not forget.”
— ECO George LaPoint
A second guest speaker, New York State Senator and Navy veteran Dan Stec, said that “…everyone that serves certainly realizes that not all our brothers and sisters came home, and 83,000 people still unaccounted for is a tragedy.” He also stressed the need to take care of those that did come home.
Stec and LaPoint both noted that 22 veterans a day take their own lives. Stec believes elected representatives need to make the needs of veterans a top priority. “There’s more that we can and should be doing for our veterans,” Stec says, “If there’s a group of people that deserve the top shelf, A-treatment that we could possibly give, it’s somebody that signed up to give their life for this country.”
The 2023 POW/MIA Remembrance service concluded with a Moment of Silence and Taps.
Photos: 2023 POW/MIA Remembrance on Prospect Mountain
Members of the American Legion hold flags. 
Patriot Guard, American Legion and Christian Motorcyclist Riders on Veterans Memorial Parkway. 
The Riders form a flag line. 
Caroline Williams sings the National Anthem 
JCS Flag Detail performs. 
Warrensburg and Johnsburg school bands perform. 
Warrensburg Band Director Denise Foster conducts. 
Senator Dan Stec speaks.
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