Photo By Tech. Sgt. Blake Gonzales | A POW/MIA flag displayed during the 2026 POW/MIA Remembrance Week opening ceremony at...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. - From Sept. 14-18, 2026, the 62d Airlift Wing and various members of Team McChord gathered to pause, remember, and honor U.S. Prisoners of War, and those missing in action in a week of remembrance leading up to National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The week featured a series of events that called service members and their families to reflect on the sacrifices made by prisoners of war in service to their country, while recognizing the family members still waiting for answers. Retired U.S. Army Capt. Charles Lindstrom, Vietnam War veteran and former member of the 1st Aviation Brigade, began the week as the key-note speaker for the opening ceremony.
“For those of us who have worn the uniform, the words ‘You Are Not Forgotten’ carry a special meaning,” said Lindstrom. “They represent a promise, that no matter how many years pass or how many generations come and go, we will remember those who served and those who never made it home.”
Events during the week included an educational display set up within the McChord Field Main Exchange, which incorporated an M151A Jeep, and an opportunity to hear stories of U.S. POW/MIA service members. The week ended with a 24-Hour POW/MIA Vigil run, in which various volunteers from across Team McChord kept a POW/MIA flag in motion for 24 hours in recognition of the fallen.
“Remembrance cannot belong to only one generation,” said Lindstrom. “The importance of carrying those names forward becomes greater with each passing year. There will come a time when we are no longer here to tell their stories ourselves. That means we have a responsibility to pass them on, and here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where another generation of America's service members continues to serve, I can think of no better place to do that.”
As the week concludes, the 62d Airlift Wing reflects on the steep price of freedom and acknowledges the sacrifices of our nation’s POW/MIAs, their families and those who continue to account for the missing.
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2026 17:16 |
| Story ID: | 575154 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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