Veterans, families and government officials came together at City Hall Plaza last Friday for National POW-MIA Recognition Day, as speakers led a memorial of remembrance for past troops and assurance for future ones.

The one-hour memorial service started at noon when soldiers from each division of the military marched to the front of the plaza carrying distinctive flags. Veterans stood at attention and saluted the soldiers as they marched by.

Since July 18, 1979, families of victims have dedicated the third Friday of September to honor prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.

Albert Prosser, a POW volunteer from Dedham, said the recognition helps to remind Americans of the soldiers that went to war and would never come back.

“We just don’t want the public to forget all of these men. They risked their lives and we’ll probably never see them again,” Prosser said. “We don’t want to forget them.”

Prosser sat at a table encouraging people to sign petitions for the release of prisoners in Southeast Asia and Russia.

“We send [the petitions] hoping that if we get so many signatures, something will happen,” Prosser explained.

Rocco Telese, aid to the commander of the Disabled American Veterans state department, said he believes many POWs and MIAs are still alive and that a National POW-MIA day reminds everyone help is needed to bring them back.

“We must remember that we have 78,000 POWs from World War II alone and you’ve got to ask, ‘What has happened to them?'” Telese said. “They are still living, I’m quite sure, somewhere, somehow, in some place.”

Many who attended the ceremony came not only to remember past POWs but also to assure future troops they would not be forgotten once at war.

Barry Sobel, state commander of the Jewish War Veterans, said the national day helps the public to recognize the consequences of the Iraq conflict.

“There may be another war in Iraq, and we need to hope and pray that there aren’t anymore POWs or MIAs coming out of that conflict,” he said.

Captain Ruth Cooper, a U.S. Navy commanding officer, gave a speech promising future soldiers they would be remembered.

“I want those going into harm’s way to know that they will never ever be forgotten by their service, their family and their nation,” she said.

Maureen Dunn, director of the memorial and wife of POW Joe Dunn, also spoke at the event.

“If the military does go to war, I want them to know that people like myself will make sure that they are accounted for,” she added.

Gene Vaillancourt, the commissioner of Veteran Services in Boston, read a proclamation by Mayor Thomas Menino. Following the proclamation, soldiers from each division took part in a brief “hat ceremony” by placing their distinguishing hat on one of five U.S. flag-covered chairs in order to symbolize the presence of POWs.

After the ceremony, Captain Conrad Donahue, a commanding officer at the naval ROTC Consortium, read a roll call of Massachusetts soldiers missing in action. For each of the 44 names called, a present soldier came forth and replied, “Missing in action, sir.”

Massachusetts representatives Mike Capuano, Barney Frank and John Tierney also made short speeches expressing their gratitude toward families of POWs and MIAs.

“I welcome the fact that I had the chance to be in your presence today and be reminded of the importance of this by so many brave men and women of service and their families who have suffered along with them. Thank you for one more step up in our education,” said Frank (D-Middlesex).

Reverend Francis Crowley concluded the ceremony by leading a prayer for “the release of the prisoners back to their family and friends and back to their nation.”