Air Force base observes National POW/MIA Recognition Day
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE — Team Little Rock observed National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day on Sept. 18 and 19 with various activities across the installation in order to pay homage to all POWs and the nearly 83,000 men and women who have never returned from war.
“American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and sacrifice that define our men and women in uniform,” President Barack Obama said in his POW/MIA Recognition Day proclamation. “These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom, and our nation will be forever in their debt. Today we honor all prisoners of war by recognizing the tremendous sacrifices made and the hardships endured by those who fight for our freedom.”
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is traditionally recognized on the third Friday in September to honor those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.
To honor these men and women, base members hosted a 24-hour run at the Warfit Track, as well as a luncheon where selected airmen had an opportunity to interact with four former POWs.
After the luncheon was finished, each former POW was presented the opportunity to tell the airmen about their experiences as prisoners of war.
Airmen sat, captivated, listening to the compelling stories told by the prior POWs.
In Januar y 1945, Jack Reaper, Tony Dodd and Howarth Taylor were captured by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge and were detained for four months until the European battles ended in May 1945.
Marion Morgan was captured by the Chinese during the Korean War in 1951 while engaging with North Korean and Chinese forces. Morgan was held in a POW camp in Korea for 32 months until the war ended in an armistice in 1953.
While the select airmen listened to the stories of war told by the POWs, fellow airmen continued to run with the POW/MIA flag.
The run involved hundreds of airmen participating in one-hour shifts to keep the POW/MIA flag in motion, nonstop, for the entire 24-hour event.
Organizers of the event said the run and retreat ceremony were beautiful and that they were thankful to be part of something so special in giving back to those who had sacrificed so much.
“We sacrificed one day, and that is nothing compared to what the men and women who we represented gave for our country,” said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Baer, a 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron dental-lab technician.
The run started after a retreat Sept. 18 and ended Sept. 19, after a retreat ceremony by the 19th Airlift Wing Honor Guard.
Many Americans from across the country pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war, missing in action and their families. During National POW/MIA Remembrance Day, military installations fly the National League of Families POW/MIA flag, symbolizing the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing.