Photo By Sgt. Devon Tindle | Members of the Okinawa Riding Club lead the running route for the Prisoner of...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — More than 83,000 service members have been reported missing in the line of duty since the end of World War II. Starting in 1979, governmental organizations were established to find them and return them home to loved ones. Camp Hansen personnel hosted an event aimed at giving these missing service members and prisoners of war the recognition they and their families deserve.
Service members and status of forces agreement personnel gathered at the House of Pain fitness center for the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action 5K Remembrance Run in honor of past and present POW/MIA personnel Sept. 19 on Camp Hansen.
The POW/MIA organization is dedicated to finding U.S. military service members who have not returned during the line of duty, and helping families of missing service members achieve a sense of closure, according to the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office website.
“The organization was created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, Congress and the families of those who were missing from war,” states the site. “They created the first POW/MIA Recognition Day to never forget the men and women who gave their freedom protecting ours.”
The run took place on POW/MIA Recognition Day to let those who are still captive or missing know that people have not forgotten them and are working to get them home, according to Nathan Hill, a Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa sports specialist.
This year, U.S. President Barack Obama made a proclamation that government officials and organizations render appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor missing service members.
“Military members are still out there scared that they will never be found,” said Pfc. Michael Hvozdik, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native and bulk fuel specialist with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “They need to remember that Americans are patriotic and will try their hardest to find those who are missing in action.”
The run had more participants than ever expected by the MCCS Okinawa coordinators, according to Hill, from Belmont, Iowa.
“The turnout for the event grew leaps and bounds from what we have had in years past,” said Hill. “We were expecting around 1,000 participants, but we had anywhere from 1,400 to 1,500 participants; from little kids to older adults.”
The participants showed their support and patriotism by donning American flag clothing, and some even ran holding a POW/MIA flag for the duration of the run.
“I thought to myself before coming to this event, ‘What could I do to honor those who were missing?’” said Cpl. Justin A. Green, a Tallahassee, Florida, native and field radio operator with 7th Communication Battalion, III MEF Headquarters Group, III MEF. “I ran with the flag, and I knew (the run) was going to hurt, but the least I could do is go through a little pain for what those missing military members went through.”
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2014 22:00 |
| Story ID: | 143703 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PA, US |
| Hometown: | TALLAHASSEE, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A Run to Remember: Marines gather for POW/MIA recognition day, by Sgt Devon Tindle, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT