Twitter
Facebook
Several events are planned on Ramstein for POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 19.
“POW/MIA Recognition Day was first held April 9, 1984. For the next 12 years, legislation was introduced every year to set aside a special day for POW/MIA remembrance,” said Master Sgt. Raymond Hutchins, 86th Maintenance Flight Squadron assistant flight chief and event planner.
“In 1995, Congress stopped accepting annual requests for special commemorative days and legislation was passed to set a perm-anent POW/MIA remembrance day. The event is headed up by the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office and is now set as the third Friday in September.”
“You are not forgotten,” is displayed on the black flags flown on U.S. military installations all over the world and across the United States.
“We hold these tributes to remind all Americans of our country’s responsibility and its ongoing efforts to stand behind those who serve our nation and do everything possible to account for those who have not yet returned,” said Sergeant Hutchins.
The Ramstein POW/MIA Recognition Day will consist of the following events: At 6:30 a.m., there will be reveille and a laying of the wreath at the River Rat Memorial with guest speaker Col. Don “Bits” Bacon, 435th Air Base Wing commander. All are invited to attend.
At 7 a.m., there will be a breakfast at the Ramstein Officers’ Club with guest speaker Col. Murrell Stinnette, 3rd Air Force chief of staff. The breakfast is limited to 150 seats. Tickets must be reserved through unit first sergeants or your unit point of contact. Cost is $10.95 for club members and $12.95 for non-members.
At 4:30 p.m., retreat will be conducted at the 86th Airlift Wing Headquarters flagpole. Brig. Gen. Bill Bender, 86th AW commander, will speak and everyone is invited to attend.
“The overall goal of this day of recognition is to show our support to POWs and MIAs and their families – to let them know we have not forgotten,” said Sergeant Hutchins.
Aside from the National POW/MIA Recognition Day events, the Air Force Sergeants’ Association will also hold a POW/MIA 24-hour run which will start at 4:29 p.m.
Thursday next to Bldg. 2401, and end at 4:29 p.m. Sept. 19. The final runner will terminate the run at the retreat ceremony located at the 86th AW Headquarters building.
“The 4th Annual POW/MIA Vigilance Run is a 24-hour run honoring and recognizing the sacrifices of America’s POWs and MIAs, those who have returned home and those who are still missing,” said Tech. Sgt. Shawna Broussard-Jones, NCOIC, 3rd Air Force command section.
AFSA is looking for runners, day and night, so shift workers can participate as well. Each runner will run for half-hour intervals but can sign up for multiple intervals throughout the event.
“Runners will pass the POW/MIA flag to the next runner, in relay fashion, signifying that we will never stop searching for our fallen comrades,” said Sergeant Broussard-Jones.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the run should call Sergeant Broussard-Jones at 480-7474 or Staff Sgt. Adam McNeil at 480-5111.
This year’s events were organized by the 86th Maintenance Group. Sergeant Hutchins is the lead coordinator, with support from Master Sergeants Rodney Simington, Christopher Davis and Charles Francks. For more infor-mation regarding National POW/MIA Recognition Day, contact Sergeant Hutchins at 480-3715.
