Altus AFB and community remember POW/MIA day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Members of Altus AFB and the City of Altus honored America's prisoners of war and those missing in action with a 24-hour remembrance run at the base track and a ceremony at the Jackson County Courthouse, Sept. 21, 2012.

The 24-hour Prisoner of War/Missing in Action remembrance run kicked off at the base track at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 2012 and ended at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2012.

97th Air Mobility Wing personnel took turns running around the track in 20 minute intervals.

"[The run] symbolizes a period of remembering," said Staff Sgt. Jillian R. Wader, 58th Airlift Squadron NCO in charge of aviation resource management. "We want to remember and honor them for the entire 24-hour period."

A POW/MIA remembrance ceremony also took place at the Jackson County Courthouse at 7 a.m. Sept. 21 where guest speaker, Lt. Gen. Darren W. McDew, 18th Air Force commander, expressed the importance of remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It is an honor to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of men and women who endured captivity in enemy hands as well as those whose fate remains unknown," McDew said. "They did so because their commitment to a sacred cause to preserve our protected way of life was important and we can never truly repay their sacrifice, but we have an obligation to honor it."

After the ceremony, the formation with the POW/MIA baton and flag ran in front of the group formations with Col. Anthony B. Krawietz, 97th AMW commander.

Members assigned to the 97th Medical Group, Operations Group and Mission Support Group participated in the remembrance run.

City of Altus community members ran behind the military formation as well.

"The message today is simple and positive," McDew said. "In the midst of hardship, America endures. It endures because of brave service members and first responders who are willing to give every single thing they have for their fellow Americans and their nation. And it endures because of the proud American people who remain strong and steadfast in every single adversity we face as a nation."