Team Mildenhall closes out POW/MIA/Fallen Comrades Week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tyrona Pearsall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  With the last name read and the playing of Retreat, Team Mildenhall solemnly closed out POW/MIA/Fallen Comrades Week.

POW/MIA Week is nationally reserved for the remembrance of prisoners of war and missing in action personnel. But, this year Team Mildenhall not only paid tribute to prisoners of war and those listed as missing in action, but the memory of fallen comrades.

The week (Sept. 17 - 21) kicked-off with a 5K run in which more than 200 Team Mildenhall personnel participated. The POW/MIA Committee hosted a barbecue-style luncheon where Sir Eldon Griffiths, president of Orange County World Affairs Council, served as the guest speaker.

The 100th Air Refueling Wing and the 48th Fighter Wing had several people join in the "Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Ride." The riders began the ride at RAF Mildenhall, and were escorted by Security Forces and British police to RAF Lakenheath, where they paid tribute at Liberty Park's Lest We Forget Wall with a poppy wreath presentation.

Day three offered plenty of camaraderie for military personnel, family members, civilians, spouses, and retirees who participated in a Bowling for Remembrance fundraiser.

The bowl-a-thon rose more than $1,600 to be used for next year's POW/MIA events. A 24-hour vigil was held for those still missing in action. More than 2, 000 names were read during the vigil.

The week closed with a Retreat ceremony including a 21-gun salute in front of the 3rd Air Force headquarters.