honors army corporal robert higgins just 20 years old when taken prisoner and later killed in the korean war. nieces were born years after higgins died. yet this simple stone means the world to them. >> i thought about my father, of course, and how excited he would have been because over the years he wondered what happened to his kid brother. >> our family is here. he was a missing person from our family and he's home. >> reporter: higgins was the youngest of three brothers to serve in the military. but he never came home. >> on this memorial day the higgins family was honored in ceremonies paying tribute to the more than 600 philadelphia area casualties of the korean war. for his long suffering family, the mystery of higgins fate was an open wound. the nieces and their husbands spent years searching for clues to his fate. only to be contacted by military officials late last year. a dna match confirmed his were remains held by the army for years without identification. >> i said washington? excuse me me. i just -- you just never thought. never thought it would happen. >> reporter: the hi

there it is, section site seven site 849 army corporal robert higgins was 20 years old when he disappearedn the fog of the korean war. uncle pobb nieces can pay their respects. >> our family is here. he was a missing person from our family and he's home with his brother. his brothers. >> i thought about my father, of course and how excited he would have been because over the years he wondered what happened to his kid brother. >> reporter: robert higgins was the youngest of three brothers to serve our country but he did not come home. as the korean war memorial at penn's landing notes -- >> taken prisoner february february 13th, 1951. date of death not really known. ♪ >> reporter: ceremonies honoring local korean war casualties higgins nieces and their husbands were guests of honor after more than 60 years of waiting for answers a dna match last november was used to identify remains that had been in army custody since the '90's. >> we were so excited. my husband and i were like ecstatic. we were like wow we just couldn't believe it actually happened after all these years. >> reporter: higgi

there it is section 7 sight 849, army corporal robert higgins was just 20 years old when he disappeared into the fog of the korean war. in a place where families come to remember loved ones, uncle bob's nieces can now pay their respects. >> our family is here. he was a missing person from our family and he's home with his brother. his brothers. i thought about my father, of course and how excited he would have been because over the years he wondered what happened to his kid brother. >> reporter: robert higgins water youngest of three brothers to serve our country. but he did not come home. as the korean war memorial at penn's landing notes -- >> taken prisoner february february 13th, 19 date of death not really known. ♪ >> reporter: ceremonies honoring local korean war casualties higgins nieces and their husbands were guests of honor after more than 60 years of waiting for answers a dna match last november was used to identify remains that had been in army custody since the '90's. >> we were so excited. my husband and i were like ecstatic. wow we just couldn't believe it actually happen

dna match led family to his remains only last year after all these years, 20 year-old corporal robert higgins was taken prisoner in 1951 a and not known when he actually died but at a newtown bucks county ceremony honoring local korean war casualties his nieces were guests of honor. after 60 years of waiting for abses a dna match was used to identify remains in army custody since 1960's. >> a lot of family here. he was a missing person, to our family and he is home new with his brother brothers. >> i thought about my father, of course, and how excited he would have been because over the years he wondered what happened to his kid brother. >> robert higgins was youngest of three brothers to serve our country. >>> a marine's wedding getting a lot of buzz from social media. what this bride and groom did moments before the ceremony. >>> first a sky diver hits a snag but this could have been a lot worse. what rescuers say about the local company that is involved. vets recommend it. and dogs, well they're begging for it. nexgard is for dogs only. and hasn't been evaluated for use in pregnant, breedi

today robert higgins honored as a service man killed in action.ve patterson was there. >> reporter: on this memorial day, city officials on hands to honor the lives after estimated 40,000 americans who died in the korean war. >> for years we never new what every happened to him. >> for more than 06 years that number did not include the story of robert higgins the 20 year old declared mia in 1951. and for all of those years, their families, forgotten son lost to what some call the forgotten war. >> every once in a while my dad would bring him up, we would talk about him he said i'll guess i'll never know what happened to my brother. >> but one year ago that all change wad single phonecall. >> it was out of the blue. >> the military took possession of hundreds of remains from the war, two samples discovered in the 90s were submitted for dna testing, that can now be done with phones and a match came back. robert was coming home. >> we just said that is miracle. it is -- how can this happen? >> reporter: here lives corporal his inches, after his famil

. >>> robert higgins who disappeared in a battle in 1951, his remains were identified just recently where he was buried with honor. >> there was a lot of closer, but bitter sweet but we are glad to be here and represent him. and be part of his family. >> reporter: the korean war was the forgotten world because the american public never got involved the way it did in world war ii. that upsets the soldiers who are alive today. >> we helped and deserve the freedom we got we want to enjoy it forever. >> i came home arena nobody looked at me, i really felt bad and to this day people don't remember the korean war. they don't. >> reporter: today we remember the veterans of the korean conflict and the veterans of all the war. nora muchanic channel 6 "action news." >> nora, thank you. >>> president obama honored our fallen troops at this memorial service at arlington national cemetary. there was a moment of silence as the president laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown. he honored those who bravelily served our nation. >>> flags were placed on the graves of fallen soldiers in cape may county. a

robert higgins was youngest of three brothers to serve, in the military. >>> 6:50.ice is denying is there a homicide investigation in connection with the death of bb king this comes after the the blues legend daughters claims that he was poisoned. the right now coroner says no evidence has been found to suggest that king was poison. an autopsy was performed on sunday but forensic test results is said to take weeks. king's daughter alleged king's business manager and an assistant caused his death. king died on may 14th. >> what was he 89 years old? >>> star wars fanatics, the world over are counting the days until the next film's release. >> i know you are so excited mike. oh my goodness. you can kill time by attending an all-star wars film festival. there we go. >> star wars film festival basically. >> you will need to get a passport first. >> the the 18th shanghai international film festival and walt disney pictures confirm all six star wars films will be screened at this festival. give me a ticket to shanghai. it is first ever theater screening of the original thr

robert higgins was declared mia in february 1951 after his unit was overrun. now, his status can be changed from missing in action, to killed in action. today, he was honored in philadelphia and his neice was at the ceremony. >> every once in a while my dad would bring him up. we would talk about him. he said i guess i'll never know what happened to my brother. we were very happy, you know, that they were able to identify him. >> higgins' name and mia classification are etched in the granite of philadelphia's korean war memorial. it will now be noted he was killed in action. >>> a special re-dedication ceremony at the philadelphia viet nam veterans memorial on penn's landing. the memorial just wrapped up two phases of renovations from weather-related damage and vandalism over the years. ralph gillati pow, keynote speaker today. he spent 14 months in captivity after his aircraft was shot down in 1972. >> the sites and sounds of the holiday were on full display in bucks county. >> ♪ ♪ >>> members of the united veterans of doylestown took part in today's parade.

. >> robert higgins declared missing in action in february 1951, after his unit was overrun. now, his status can be changed from missing in action, to killed in action. yesterday he was honored in philadelphia. his neice was at the memorial day ceremony. >> every once in a while my dad would bring him up. we would talk about him. he would say i guess i never will know what happened to my brother. we are very happy, you know, that they were able to identify him. >> higgins name and mia class if i cakes are etched in the granite wall there at the philadelphia korean war memorial. that will now be noted that he was killed in action. >>> still ahead this morning on "eyewitness news" following breaking news, the search for suspect after overnight home invasion. >> also, just soak down south. more drenching rain hits texas, crews search for victims swept away by the here's to the explorers. those diagnosed with cancer who didn't settle for just one opinion on their diagnosis or recommended treatment plan they explored their options. and discovered a new level of empowerment. at can

robert higgins was declared missing in action in february february 1951 after his unit was overrun.ow his status can be changed from missing in action to killed in action. today he was honored in philadelphia and his niece was at the ceremony. >> once in while my dad would bring him up and we would talk about him. he would say i guess i'll never know what happened to my brother. we're very happy that they were able to identify him. >> higgins name and mia classification are edged into the granite of philadelphia's korean war memorial. it will now be noteed he was killed in action. >>> a community came together in bucks county to honor our nation's fallen heroes. ♪ >>> members of the united veterans of doylestown took part in today's parade there. they marched 2 miles from cb west high skull to the doylestown cemetery on court street. >>> american flags and a wreath decorate the courthouse in media and that's where the town wrapped up its annual parade. afterward many veterans lingered around the courthouse sharing stories about what memorial day means to them. >>> and veterans march

army corporal robert higgins went missing in action during the korean war in 1951. decades passed. but it wasn't until dna testing last december it positively linked a relative with higgins' remains. >> it's sweet, it's sad, too, but it's good to have them home now and we know where he is. >> during this memorial day ceremony, philadelphia mayor michael nutter praised the sacrifice of the over 36,000 americans who died in the conflict. >> america's always worth fighting for. america's always, in some cases worth dying for. >> for one family, their fight for an ending with both honor and answers, it's finally over. >> even though he's been gone all these years, he was never gone from our hearts. >> back live here at washington square. as you can hear they're singing the national anthem. the mayor at the memorial. this time the vietnam memorial. we'll talk about that coming up in the next hour. we're live in center city. jesse gary, nbc 10 news. >> president obama took part in a memorial day ceremony at arlington national cemetery today. the president laying a wreath at the tomb of t

one of those honored was corporal robert higgins of fishtown. he went missing during a battle in korea in 1951. it wasn't until last year his remains were identified using dna. >> it's bittersweet but we're glad that we're here for him to represent him and be part of his family. >> out of 11 of us on patrol, my captain and myself was the only ones that didn't get a bullet in our head. >> reporter: it's hurtful to those who served back in the 1950's but korea has been called the forgotten war. >> and to this day people don't remember the korean war. they really don't. us guys do. >> ♪♪ >> reporter: this memorial day they are remembered along with vietnam veterans and those from world war ii still with us as we thank them all living and dead for their honor, duty and sacrifice. in penn's landing i'm nora muchanic, channel6 "action news. >> war memorials across the area were gathering places for residents saluting the nation's war dead. >> ♪♪ >>> from young children to aging veterans, they came to the park in roxborough to remember neighbors who ne

robert, thank you. the first female pilot of the navy blue angels will be part of the team performing at annapolis. bleep captain katie higgins of maryland is a graduate of thenail academy and georgetown -- naval academy and georgetown. she has thrown 400 combat hours around the world and is tonight's working woman. flying is in her d.n.a. katie's father and her grandfathers were military pilots and she, too was drawn to public service. >> the military was the highest calling for me. the loudest calling i would say. >> she flies c-130. she was attracted when the piloting combat missions to afghanistan and humanitarian missions in africa. >> i have been in love since i started flying it. i will fly it for the rest of my career. alison: higgins is most comfortable and herself in the cockpit. even when feeling weightless. >> the zero g you get a weightless feeling and you are floating around in your feet. the 2 g's feel twice your body weight. alison: she rejects the notion she was chosen for the elite group because she is a woman. >> i flighted planes as good as my male counterparts and i have a great time doing it. my flying s