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POW/MIA ceremony held on Buckley

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Team Buckley members formed up Sept. 19 at the 460th Space Wing headquarters building for a POW/MIA reveille ceremony in honor of those who suffered as prisoners of war or are missing in action.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed around the world on military installations, ships, in state capitals, schools and veterans' facilities on the third Friday in September each year.

According to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, more than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War.

Tech. Sgt. Zach Coyner, 460th Medical Group NCO in charge of physical therapy, opened the event by paying tribute to the POW/MIA commitment.

"I'd like to begin by recognizing the heart of the POW/MIA community," Coyner said. "Any former prisoners of war and the families of Americans still missing in action, we honor your strength and your courage."

Col. Mitch Stratton, 460th Space Wing vice commander, asked those at the observance to rekindle their commitment to the nation's prisoners of war and the patriots who never returned.

"Yesterday, we celebrated the birthday of our United States Air Force, and we honored the brave service of our brave men and women to our country -- those who came before us and those who serve today," Stratton said. "Today, we gather on a much more solemn occasion to remember and to recommit today's service members who have endured confinement and often unspeakable cruelty as prisoners of war and to the families of those who are remain missing in action: You are not forgotten."

 

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