Lying down on a floor, unable to speak or walk. That's the state John Ronco and other captured service members were in when their rescuers finally arrived.

Ronco, a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and a Napa resident now, will never forget the words he heard that day. "You're free now," the men told him.

Ronco spent three years as a prisoner of the Germans during World War II. At a prisoner of war/missing in action memorial event Friday, he recalled that he was shocked he was actually being saved.

The retired squad leader, now 81, participated Friday afternoon in the National POW/MIA recognition ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Park in Napa. This is the second year the ceremony was held at Veteran's Memorial Park.

At the small ceremony, about two dozen onlookers joined a dozen or so officials from the city of Napa and the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, who spoke in honor of those who were captured or went missing.

"We have a lot of patriotic holidays, but this is a group we have to always keep in mind," said Barton Buechner, deputy administrator of the Veterans Home.

A garden containing 2,543 small white flags -- one for each POW/MIA of the Vietnam War -- stood surrounded by American flags at the park.

Napa Mayor Jill Techel said it is important to "see those flags and (remember) those that are not with us."

A highlight of the ceremony was the missing man table and honors ceremony. A table with six empty chairs was set in honor of each military branch.

Civilian first responders were also honored.

Thomas Fiske, organizer of the event, summed up the ceremony: "We just can't forget them."