SENATOR OSTEN UNVEILS BRONZE PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE AMERICAN SOLDIER POWS AND MISSING IN ACTION

HARTFORD – State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), a Vietnam-era Army veteran and an American Legion Post commander, today helped unveil a new memorial bronze plaque in the veterans’ memorial area of the state Legislative Office Building that commemorates those American soldiers who are either missing in action or considered prisoners of war.

According to the U.S. Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense), more than 80,000 American service personnel are listed as either missing or prisoners of war from previous conflicts, and 38,000 of those are estimated to be recoverable. About 41,000 are listed as missing at sea.

“At our American Legion Post 85 in Baltic, every single meeting starts with a recognition of those who are still missing in action and those who are still prisoners of war from any of the conflicts that we’ve had,” Sen. Osten said. “It takes a lot of humility to accept that we haven’t brought everybody home yet. But I think it’s important to let people know that even though not every soldier is home yet, we are thinking of them. remembering them, and honoring them, and that’s exactly what this plaque will do.”

The nonprofit American Ex-Prisoners of War has designed and fabricated a series of bronze commemorative plaques that it is donating to each participating Capitol building in America to raise awareness of American POWs and those missing in action.

“Our project is to raise visibility and awareness, and it leads to the respect and honor that all our veterans deserve,” said  AMEXPOW CEO Charles Susino. “We are honored by the warm welcome we received here from Connecticut, we’re honored that our plaque is here, and the people of Connecticut need to be proud of what you’ve all done.”