LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Events kicked off in honor of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, which included an opening ceremony and the first lap of a 24-hour run, here, Sept. 15.
The events were held to not only pay homage to those who gave their lives fighting for their country, but to also honor and show remembrance for those who are still missing today.
“Our task is to remember the sacrifice of those heroes and to remember those that have families and loved ones who bear that painful burden when their Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman is not there anymore,” said Col. Donald Borchelt, 1st Fighter Wing vice commander.
Borchelt ran the first lap with U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Barry Bridger, 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4 Phantom pilot, during the 24-hour POW/MIA run. Bridger was an aircraft commander in 1966 during a flying mission in North Vietnam, when he was shot down, captured and imprisoned for 2,232 days (six years) in North Vietnam.
Airmen and civilians applauded in reaction to seeing the POW run the first lap.
“It was awesome! He jumped in there like it was no problem, dress shoes and all,” said Master Sgt. Vanessa Reeves, POW/MIA committee chairman. “It was a proud feeling when the Airmen saw him out there smiling on the track. You can’t help but to feel motivated from that.”
The POW/MIA flag must be carried by someone throughout the 24-hour run. It bears the emblem of the national league of POW/MIA families.
“The iconic black and white POW symbol reminds us all of our warrior commitment to never leave a fellow countryman behind,” Borchelt said. “[What’s most important] is that motto of our unwavering commitment … you are not forgotten.”
Within the white disc of the POW/MIA flag is a black silhouette of a man, a strand of barbed wire and a guarded watch tower in the background. A black and white wreath wraps below.
The Defense Authorization Act of 1998 requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown six days each year.
“It is a legacy of honor,” Reeves said. “Without service members before us making the sacrifices they made, I wouldn’t be able to have some of the freedoms I have today.”
The third Friday in September has been observed as POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1986. Since World War I, more than 150,000 Americans have been held as prisoners of war and more than 83,400 service members are still unaccounted for.
“My first thoughts when POW/MIA comes to mind are of the survivors and those that did return,” Reeves said. “I also think of the families of those that are still missing. I can’t imagine not having that closure of losing a lost one.”
Some of that closure families of the POWs get comes from stories shared by POWs.
“Our Air Force and U.S. military is different today than it was during World War II or the Vietnam War,” Reeves said. “You hear many stories about how difficult it was to fight a war during those times.”
Technology is a big difference between wars fought throughout the 20th century compared to contingencies of today, Reeves said.
“Today we have social media and Facetime,” Reeves said. “They didn’t have any of that. Imagine having your loved one going off to war, and you’re hoping you get that last letter or piece of communication from them.”
Having that last piece of communication before families never see their loved ones again is crucial to moving on peacefully, Reeves said.
“Closure gives that family [of the POW] comfort of knowing what happened to their loved one during the last moments of their life before giving the ultimate sacrifice,” Reeves said. “It’s like a missing piece of a puzzle.”
Bridger will speak about his experiences during his own event at JBLE’s base theater today at 2pm.
A closing ceremony will be held tomorrow at Team Langley’s memorial Grove Park (across the street from the hospital on Nealy Ave.). In case of inclement weather, the alternate location will be the base theater.
“We’re hoping that when he shares his story with everybody, he makes that personal connection and answers a few questions that our young Airmen have,” Reeves said. “Our closing ceremony will be on POW/MIA Recognition Day as we take a pause and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.”
The Airmen who volunteered to set up events participated not because they were ordered to, but because they wanted to, Reeves said.
“We’re looking forward to the upcoming events and we’re going to hopefully have a few more local POWs make it out to tomorrow’s closing ceremony,” Reeves said. “We’re giving them a four-ship F-22 fly-by at 1600, which is exciting.”
Airmen and civilians will have an opportunity to meet and greet with the POWs after tomorrow’s closing ceremony.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Airmen react during the interactions they have,” Reeves said. “When you meet the POW’s, you realize they are very humble. They don’t necessarily want the spotlight, but I like showing them what we’re doing to honor them and seeing the appreciation on their faces.”
(Editor’s Note: This is part one of a three-part series in honor of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day)