Sailors assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) observed Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition (POW/MIA) Recognition day during a solemn ceremony on the command's quarterdeck, Sept. 18.

Observed by the nation on the third Friday in September, NECC's newest chief petty officers coordinated the ceremony to remember those MIA-POWs who are not forgotten and many of whom have paid the ultimate price.

Chief Electronics Technician Christifer Dearing, who participated in a chief pinning ceremony on Sept. 16, served as the ceremony's officiator.

"It was truly an honor to participate in today's ceremony to pay respects to those who are not able to be with us," said Dearing, who reflected on the silence of the participants during the playing of TAPS. "It gave me chills the silence in the room signifying the profound respect the participants gave to those who came before us."

During the ceremony, Dearing gave a presentation on the meaning of the POW/MIA table, which is displayed in all the mess decks, official military functions across the Department of Defense.

"We call your attention to this small table, which occupies a place of dignity and honor. It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks. They are referred to as prisoners of war and missing in action," Dearing read from a script during the ceremony.

Force Chaplain Capt. Bruce Boyle provided the benediction reflecting on the importance of remembering and never forgetting.

"We must never forget the 83,000 service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice," said Boyle. "Today's ceremony and countless ceremonies across our nation today serve as a profound remembrance of what they gave to our nation."

The service members still listed as MIA span from World War II through the Persian Gulf War.

While NECC Sailors observed POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Group One and Explosive Ordnance Group Two continue to assist the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to recover the remains of service members missing in action.