Service members pay respect to POW, MIA during ceremony

Photo By Lance Cpl. Donald Peterson | Veterans and service members gather around the prisoner of war and missing in action wreath after the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at Kadena Air Force Base Sept. 21. The ceremony paid respects and honored the service members who never returned home from war or were captured. The ceremony was held by the 18th Wing Headquarters, KAB.  

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.21.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Donald Peterson 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan — The Air Force’s 18th Wing hosted a joint 24-hour vigil run followed by a flag ceremony to pay respects to prisoners of war and service members listed as missing in action at the 18th Wing Headquarters at Kadena Air Force Base Sept. 21.

The event was held on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is observed annually across the U.S. and its military installations abroad on the third Friday of September.

Dressed in his service dress uniform, Air Force Capt. Craig H. Nakagawa, a chaplain, walked up to the podium in front of the crowd and gave his remarks in a strong yet sad voice.

“Let the world give ear. Warriors have fallen and not returned home. Warriors remain captive and have not been accounted for,” said Nakagawa. “Though I have said these words before, and sadly, will have to say them again, they will always be new to my lips and bitter to my tongue. Let the ears that hear these words hear them as if for the first time, for they must be said and repeated until all our warriors are home.”

Service members of each branch participated in the vigil run, which ended the morning of Sept. 21 when six Air Force combat controllers ran the POW/MIA flag from Marek Park to the 18th Wing Headquarters and delivered it to the honor guard to post.

“Standing here and seeing our sister services joining us to pay respect for the service members who never returned home reminds me that, no matter what, we are here for each other,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, the commanding general of 18th Wing.

After the raising of the morning colors and POW/MIA flag, Wilsbach, accompanied by two retired veterans, laid a wreath in front of the flagpoles to pay their respects. The wreath-laying was followed by a 21-gun salute.

“The wreath is a donation from Veterans of Foreign War Post 9723,” said David Boughton, a retired master gunnery sergeant and member of VFW Post 9723. “We donated the wreath to pay respect to our missing brothers and sisters.”

As the ceremony ended, Chief Master Sgt. Mark D. Marson, the command chief master sergeant for 18th Wing, provided closing remarks.

“It was a great pleasure having all (of) the sister services here today,” said Marson. “As service members, we all know there’s a chance of going to war and not returning, and that’s why we are here today – to remember those who were unfortunate not to return.

“They were a child to someone, maybe a husband or wife, but no matter what, they were family to someone who may never see them again. I would like to give thanks to those who ran throughout the night and in the rain carrying the (POW/MIA) flag. No matter what service you are (a part of), we all are family.”

• Date Taken: 09.21.2012
• Date Posted: 09.27.2012 01:56
• Story ID: 95356
• Location: KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP