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Altus honors POWs, those MIA

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class J. Zuriel Lee
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Airmen of Altus Air Force Base participated in a POW/MIA recognition retreat ceremony at Wings of Freedom Park, Sept. 19, 2014.

The ceremony was conducted in honor of National Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, which is observed on the third Friday of September.

"We gather as a Wing, as Americans and as Airmen to honor our prisoners of war and missing in action and renew our commitment to account for all of them," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. William B. Hill, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight superintendent. "It is important to remember this day because the sacrifices our prisoners of war, missing in action and their families experienced to keep our country free cannot be expressed in words alone."

The 97th Mission Support Group hosted the ceremony and Airmen from around the base to attended the remembrance ceremony. The local Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 988 donated the ceremonial wreaths for the event.

"As our nation's flag lowers, we vow to those that were prisoners of war or missing in action that you will never be forgotten," said Hill.

Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day honors the service men and women who never returned home and their government's commitment to account for them.