AMARILLO, TEXAS -- There are fewer than 30,000 POW veterans left in the United States, and about 50 of them were honored Monday at the VA Hospital in Amarillo. "These veterans have given in such a way to their country," VA Hospital Director Andrew Welch stated. "What they've done is they've stepped up for their country, gone to war, been captured during wartime and suffered in a POW camp and have made it back home. And we want to make sure that they know how much we appreciate them every single day." A report has shown that up to 2,800 of these POW veterans die each year, and soon none will be left. The VA Hospital hosts the luncheon twice a year to thank veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam for all they put on the line to ensure Americans could keep their freedom. "To preserve their memory before it's a memory...," Welch said. "In other words, to appreciate them right now while they can still hear us appreciating them and to let them know that we care about them, that we appreciate what they did for their country." The POWs hear it time and time again, but Welch said nothing can be done to completely thank the men for the services and sacrifices they provided. LINK
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