For nearly 50 years.

The third Friday in September has been known as National Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day.

Today, volunteers gathered at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Frankfort to honor the more than 83,000 service members still considered to be a POW or Mia.

The group was joined by local students, which organizers said gave them a chance to pass down the importance of today's ceremony and nobody is getting paid for anything that order in their own time, their own money.

Because we feel it's important to educate younger generations about what this is, because if we don't keep a focus on those that are still missing in action, then then the government, you know, can can give up on them and not try and find it.

But they're still identifying these men today from World War II to Korea, Vietnam.

They're still identified.

Just this week, the remains of U.S.

Air Force Staff Sergeant Henry Gish were returned to Kentucky from Vietnam.

He was laid to rest with full military honors in Berea.