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Idaho Town Marks Soldier's 4th Year In Taliban Captivity

Jessica Robinson
/
Northwest News Network

Yellow ribbons and black prisoner-of-war flags are lining the streets in Hailey, Idaho today. The town is preparing to honor captured soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

The 27-year-old Army sergeant has been a prisoner of the Taliban for almost four years. Family and friends are getting ready for what they hope will be the biggest and last local rally to bring Bergdahl home.

Members of a POW support group mount flags along Hailey's Main Street. Donna Thibedeau-Eddy has traveled here from Pocatello, Idaho, to participate in the Bergdahl event.

"The more supporters we can get out here, the more people we can make aware that we have one American soldier – one American soldier from the Afghan and Iraq wars –that still has not come home and it's time to bring him home,” says Thibedeau-Eddy.

The Associated Press reported this week that the Taliban is open to a prisoner exchange.

This weekend's "Bring Bowe Back" rally will start with a motorcycle honor guard arriving in what's known as the missing man formation.

Bob Bergdahl, Bowe's father, plans to participate on his son's bike.

Organizers say they've gotten RSVPs from veteran and POW groups from as far away as Illinois and Florida.