Maxwell honors POWs, MIAs with Wreath Ceremony Published Sept. 21, 2015 By By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell honored fallen and missing service members during the 2015 Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Wreath ceremony Sept. 17, 2015, held at the POW/MIA memorial located in Maxwell's Air Park. In honor of National POW/MIA Day, Maxwell Airmen gathered to pay their respect and recognize the sacrifices made by prisoners of war and those missing in action. The base Honor Guard kicked off the ceremony by posting the colors and playing the National Anthem, followed by an invocation by Maj. Scott Nupson, 42nd Air Base Wing chaplain and remarks by Col. Andrea Tullos, 42nd ABW commander. In her speech Tullos described the responsibilities and sacrifices upheld by service members, and their promise to never forget or leave a service member behind. "Today brings an opportunity for us to honor the sacrifices of our POWs and MIAs, to reflect on the uncivilized horrific acts they were subject to and remind ourselves of the awe inspiring mental and physical strength which enabled them to overcome such hardships," she said. Wrapping up her remarks, Tullos recognized a couple of POWs from Alabama, including the late retired Master Sgt. James Traylor. Traylor, who served as a B-17 ball turret gunner during World War II, was captured by enemy forces when his aircraft was shot down during his 11th mission and imprisoned in Stalag 17. After being liberated from Stalag Traylor went on to serve in Vietnam before retiring. His wife Helyn Traylor attended the ceremony in his memory and hopes Airmen learn from the ceremony to always be true to your country and be strong and brave. "Airmen here need to take away with them that there are many who came before us ... think about all the sacrifices they have made in order for us to uphold and fulfil our freedoms and continue to fight for those freedoms and wear the uniform with the same respect as they did before us," said Master Sgt. Michael Kozeniesky, Maxwell Honor Guard superintendent. The ceremony ended with the placement of the wreath at the POW/MIA memorial, the playing of Taps and a 21-gun salute. According to the Defense Prisoner of War Personnel office there are 83,115 service member unaccounted for since WWII.