CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
This year, Charleston AFB teamed up with the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center to host 24 hours of POW/MIA events to celebrate the annual POW/MIA National Recognition Day on base Sept. 23 to 24.
On Sept. 23, Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, kicked off the series of events with the start of a 24-hour vigil run around the commissary parking lot. During those 24 hours, members from Team Charleston, VA medical center, Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, family, friends, and representatives from all five U.S. military services carried the POW/MIA flag, never allowing it to stop. Besides showing respect to the nation's heroes, the dedication demonstrated by running and carrying the flag for 24 hours symbolized two things: the prisoners' of war nonstop resistance to the enemy's interrogation and harsh conditions endured during captivity and America's promise to never forget and stop searching for all Americans still missing in action.
One member of Team Charleston, Capt. Rick Mueller, 437th Airlift Wing, ran and walked the entire 24 hours, logging in a total of 88 miles. Staff Sgt. Bradley Lykins, Detachment 5, 373rd Training Squadron, logged 50 miles in approximately 14 hours.
The final leg of the run was accomplished by Charleston AFB's Command Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer, who was followed with a service member from each branch of the Armed Forces with a 1.5-mile run from the commissary to nose dock two. This was the official end of the 24-hour vigil run and the official start of the POW/MIA retreat ceremony. All together, 472 people participated in the run for a total of 1,748 cumulative miles, shattering last year's record of 302 runners and 1,034 miles.
On Sept. 24, a luncheon was hosted by Colonel Millander and officiated by Master Sgt. Michelle McMeekin, 437th Force Support Squadron, to honor the nation's local heroes. There were 24 former POWs in attendance representing World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Bob Perreault was the keynote speaker whose father, Joseph Perreault, was a World War II German POW at Stalag 7A from Oct. 24, 1944 until he was liberated in 1945.
The luncheon consisted of the singing of the national anthem by the 14th Airlift Squadron's Aca-Pelicans, POW/MIA table observance ceremony, the playing of "Going Home" on the bag pipes by Tech. Sgt. Iain Stewart, 437th Operations Support Squadron, a poem reading by Arthur Cobert who was a former member of the Chenault's Flying Tigers of World War II, and closing remarks from Colonel Millander.
Following the luncheon, all POWs and their guests were invited to attend a formal retreat ceremony located in nose dock two where they could view a C-17 static display on the Charleston aircraft named "The Spirit of the POW/MIA."
The retreat ceremony started at 3:30 p.m. with the completion of the 24-hour vigil run where a wreath-laying ceremony was conducted by Colonel Millander and former POW James Eidson, who is currently the commander of the State of South Carolina Prisoners of War. Sergeant Stewart played a rendition of "Amazing Grace" during this ceremony. There was also a missing man formation, 21-gun salute, C-17 flyover, "Taps" and the retiring of the colors. The retreat ceremony was officiated by Senior Airman Ebony Holt, 437th Medical Group, and Airman 1st Class Thomas Benson, 437 OSS.
"I wish to personally thank all of my 2008 POW/MIA committee members for all their hard work to set up all these events," said Senior Master Sgt. Keith Geltz, 437 OSS and 2008 POW/MIA event coordinator. "I also appreciate the VA staff, runners, sister services and everyone who attended these awesome events -- job well done!"