ARPC vigil remembers prisoners of war, missing in action

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
  • ARPC Public Affairs
DENVER --  To commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Airmen and civilian employees gathered here Sept. 17 for a vigil remembering prisoners of war or those missing in action.

The ceremony opened with recognition of the missing man table -- a table set with a red rose and ribbon, an inverted glass and an empty chair -- symbolizing men and women who are still missing in action.

Following the recognition, ARPC's Karen Willett and Erline Rohan, began reading the names of servicemembers missing or captured after World War II through current operations.

For more than seven hours, 30 Airmen and civilian volunteers read in 30-minute shifts, the names, ranks, branches of service and dates they went missing.

Master Sgt. Laramie Reece, organized this year's vigil and read names alongside his father, Barry Reece, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Army.

"It was an honor that words cannot express to read with my dad," Sergeant Reece said. "It was important for him to continue to remind those that he served with that he still stands true to the meaning, "You Are Not Forgotten.'"

"My dad's brother, my uncle, served in the Navy during Vietnam and he and his shipmates were listed as MIA for almost six days; not the several years that many have sacrificed, but to be placed in that position, and to survive, required tons of courage and commitment."

The vigil ended with a formal retreat ceremony of one military and one civilian formation and the retiring of the POW/MIA flag.

POW/MIA Recognition Day is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated flying of the POW/MIA flag.