Never Forget

A POW/MIA remembrance table is set up during the 24-hour vigil and run to honor U.S prisoners of war and those missing in action during POW/MIA Recognition Day at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 18, 2014. The Wolf Pack community honored the occasion together with events organized by the Kunsan AB Air Force Sergeants Association. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry/Released)

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Never Forget

U.S. Soldiers with the Alpha Battery 2-1, 35th air Defense Artillery Brigade, light 24 candles during the opening ceremony for the POW/MIA Recognition Day at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 18, 2014. Each lit candle represents one hour of the run and vigil. The Wolf Pack community volunteered to take turns carrying the POW/MIA flag during the run and to read aloud names at the vigil non-stop for 24 hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry/Released)

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Never Forget

Col. Ken “Wolf” Ekman, 8th Fighter Wing commander (first) and Chief Master Sgt. Lee “Wolf Chief” Barr, 8th Fighter Wing command chief (second) lead Wolf Pack Airmen during the first half hour of POW/MIA Recognition Day run at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 18, 2014. The Wolf Pack community volunteered to take turns carrying the POW/MIA flag during the run for 24 straight hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry/Released)

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Never Forget

Tech. Sgt. Kurtis Douge, 8th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, carries the POW/MIA flag during the 24-hour run and vigil to honor POW/MIA Recognition Day at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 18, 2014. The Wolf Pack community volunteered to take turns carrying the POW/MIA flag during the run and to read aloud names at the vigil non-stop for 24 hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry/Released)

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Never Forget

U.S. Soldiers with the Alpha Battery 2-1, 35th air Defense Artillery Brigade take turns with U.S. Airmen of the 8th Fighter Wing in the late evening to read names at the vigil in honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 18, 2014. Airmen and Soldiers at Kunsan AB commemorated U.S. prisoners of war and those missing in action with a 24-hour run and vigil. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry/Released)

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Never Forget

Published Sept. 19, 2014
By Chief Master Sgt. Lee R. Barr
8th Figher Wing

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- On Sept.19, 2014, our nation observed Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day. This annual event honors our prisoners of war, those missing in action, and their families. It also serves as a reminder of our government's commitment to account for more than 83,000 Americans still missing who sacrificed themselves for their country -- our country. The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, located near Washington, D.C., leads this endeavor.

This year, Kunsan observed POW/MIA Recognition Day with a 24-hour vigil and run beginning Sept. 18 at 4 p.m., ending at 4 p.m. Sept. 19 with a closing ceremony and a 3-volley rifle salute commemorating our lost brothers and sisters.

As we took the time to reflect, honor and observe this sacred day, our POW/MIA and the families they left behind were constantly on my mind and in my thoughts and prayers.

When I was a young boy, I would visit different families and see a picture of a young man in uniform and ask, "Who is that? Why haven't I seen him?" These must have been heart-wrenching questions coming from a little boy. They would tell me the name of the person and why I had never seen them -- you know the answer. The older I became, the more I understood. There was never a POW/MIA Recognition Day in my small rural home town. Once I joined the U.S. Air Force, I really understood the Never Forget ethos we use for our POW/MIA.

When do we stop looking and accounting for our prisoners of war and missing in action? The answer of course is clear -- never; never because we made a commitment as a Nation. We made promises to families to Never Forget. We will Never Forget the sacrifices they made so we can be a free Nation.

Never Forget, they paved the way for freedom and America's way of life. Never Forget, they preserved freedom for other countries to protect their way of life. Never Forget, we have been at war for over 13 years and we still collectively answer our Nation's call. Never Forget, America is still the land of the free and home of the brave because of the men and women we honor today.

Never Forget, this is not the only day to remember...