OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Jill Puentes came to Friday’s ceremony at Memorial Park to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action for their service, including her uncle who served in the army.

“Sgt. Manuel Puentes was in the Vietnam War,” she said. “He went there as a very young man and he never made it back.”

Laying a wreath at the park’s Veteran’s memorial has been a yearly tradition for her father. This year was the first time she had the honor.

“My dad put the education in me to honor and remember those that we lost,” Puentes said. “...that we should not take our freedom for granted, that there are people that really go out and fight for us to be free.”

Randy Hawkins is with Omaha’s Marine Corps League. He helped bring identified soldiers’ remains back home.

“[It’s a] very humble

See Full Page