LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Every year the president signs a proclamation designating the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It's a time for our nation to remember veterans who served and sacrificed for the United States.
Former prisoners of war from the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Ex-Prisoner of War Organization and the James L. Hale Memorial Chapter were invited to Langley to partake in a luncheon and base tour.
Former POWs of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War attended and represented various branches of the military including, the Army, Navy, Air Force and the former Army Air Corps. Their prison times ranged from two months to six and a half years.
Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, Air Combat and Command manpower resource manager, volunteered to help plan and coordinate the event because she felt it was the least she could do to honor and remember former POWs and those who are missing in action.
"They gave so much - for me to take out one day of the entire year to let them know that is worth it," she said.
Volunteers from different squadrons joined the former POWs for lunch at the Langley Bayside Enlisted Club and acted as escorts for the duration of their visit.
2nd Lt. Reginald Quarles, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron section commander, was one of the volunteers for the event.
"I volunteered because it was a good opportunity to give back to them and it's the right thing to do," said Lieutenant Quarles.
Col. Jeffrey Prichard, 1st Fighter Wing vice commander, welcomed the POWs to Langley during the luncheon. The honor guard also performed a ceremony at the MIA remembrance table and received coins for their efforts from the chapter presidents.
After lunch, the tour began with a visit to the 27th Fighter Squadron hangar. The former POWs viewed a static display of an F-22 Raptor and met with one of the pilots, Capt. Michael Trujillo of the 27th FS.
Nearly all of them went up into the cockpit of the F-22 and they were very impressed, said Sergeant Clapper.
One of the former POWs told Sergeant Clapper that he sees the F-22 fly over his house all the time. He said it was a treat to be able to get up close to the plane and talk with the pilot who flies it.
They also attended a graduation ceremony for new Airmen at the Langley First Term Airmen Center. The FTAC Airmen met with the former POWs of the Army Air Corps and experienced the Air Force's heritage firsthand.
They were able to get close to the history of where the Air Force came from, Sergeant Clapper said.
After the FTAC graduation, the former POWs were escorted outside where they watched a retreat ceremony.
"It made me feel very proud especially as a young lieutenant. It was encouraging to meet the POWs; it inspires me to do something great," Lieutenant Quarles said. "I learned that no matter what the circumstances are you have to persevere and not give up."
The former POWs were invited to Langley to show that we care and remember the sacrifices they've made that paved the way for us, said Sergeant Clapper.
"We're here today because of what they did then," she said.