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NEWS | Sept. 20, 2017

National POW/MIA Recognition Day observed by service members, community

By Airman 1st Class Alexandra Singer 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Service members and local community members observed National POW/MIA Recognition Day during an annual ceremony, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Sept. 15, 2017.

Prior to the ceremony, JBLE started a 24-hour vigil on Sept. 14, 2017. During this volunteers ran around the base’s perimeter with the POW/MIA flag, which was flown constantly, pausing only for a brief moment during retreat.

Along with the 24-hour run, the base theatre hosted two guest speakers who are directly affected by the national day. During the event U.S. Air Force Retired Lt. Gen. Glen “Wally” Moorhead III shared his perspective on being the son of a prisoner of war. Retired Brig. Gen. Richard Abel also shared what he experienced while he was in charge of welcoming home POWs from the Vietnam War.

Base leadership, the two guest speakers and local Veterans of Foreign Wars also participated in an open discussion during a breakfast on September 15, 2017.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed every year on the third Friday of September. Those who participate, pay their respects to POWs and remember those still missing-in-action.