CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Each year, the third Friday of September is set aside to honor and recognize the sacrifices our former prisoners of war made to keep America free, and to recognize the families of our servicemembers still missing in action as they continue to hope and pray their loved ones will one day come home.
In keeping with this proud tradition, Team Charleston observed the 2007 National POW/MIA Recognition Day here, starting Sept. 20 with a 24-hour vigil run and culminating with a series of events Sept. 21.
The wing paid special tribute to 26 former POWs from throughout South Carolina at a luncheon Sept. 21, followed by a C-17 tour, wreath-laying, formal recognition ceremony, 21-gun salute, retreat ceremony and C-17 flyover. The former POWs were accompanied by their spouses, family members and friends. More than 150 Team Charleston members also came out to honor these true American heroes.
Over the course of the 20th century, thousands of brave men and women became prisoners of war in a distant, hostile land. They endured great pain and hardship at the hands of their enemies. Many were subjected to physical beatings and torture, and many still carry these scars decades later.
Additionally, approximately 88,000 Americans have not returned home from serving their nation's call to war. Millions of Americans continue to grieve in silence every day for their loved ones whose presence is dearly missed. So, it is only befitting that we also recognized the sacrifices the families of those who are still listed as missing in action have made on this special day of observance.
This year's POW/MIA events at Charleston AFB were the most ambitious ever planned and carried out in our proud history, and organizers plan to continue this tradition next year. The bar has been set high and we are extremely grateful to Senior Master Sgts. Keith Geltz and Paul Yecke and Tech. Sgt. Sidney DeLeon, all from the 437th Operations Support Squadron, and the rest of the team who put together this first-class event.
America's former POWs and those still missing in action are proud heroes who lived by the Air Force core values ... most notably, that of service before self. Their selfless spirit of commitment in responding to our nation's call to war speaks volumes of their willingness to do the right thing, even if it meant paying the ultimate price to preserve peace and deliver freedom.
Every day the men and women of Team Charleston also choose to live by the core value of "service before self," much in the same way the brave POWs and MIAs did. Our ops tempo is high as we support the GWOT. Our folks, from the support personnel, to the maintainers, to the operators, are sacrificing much -- enduring multiple deployments and family separations, working long hours and supporting the warfighter -- not because they have to, but because they want to. Epitomizing through their actions that the core value of "service before self" is how they choose to live their lives every day. And for this, our nation is grateful.
I too salute those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today and I salute Team Charleston for continuing that fight for future generations to follow. Please know, I'm extremely proud to be on your team.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!