Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Week events scheduled

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A variety of events are scheduled for Sept. 15 to 19 for Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Week of Remembrance. 

The events - organized by the POW/MIA Fallen Comrades Committee - include a 24-hour vigil, a motorcycle ride with wreath-laying and a POW/MIA Fallen Comrades luncheon at the Galaxy Club. RAF Marham Wing commander Dave Waddington, who spent six weeks as a prisoner-of-war in Iraq, is the guest speaker. 

"There are few causes as great as this," said Tech. Sgt. Dustin Hall, POW/MIA Fallen Comrades Committee vice president. "The idea that there are still over 100,000 American POW/MIAs unaccounted for is mind-numbing and humbling. There are still thousands who also died while in prisoner-of-war status - 2,701 deaths in POW camps in Korea." 

Sergeant Hall has been part of the committee here for more than three years, and said it's because of Article VI of the Code of Conduct, which states: "I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America." 

"The trust referred to is faith that fellow Americans will not be forgotten," he said. "This lends us to the theme of POW/MIA Recognition Day, 'You are not forgotten.'" 

Events for the week are as follows: 

Sept. 15: 5K formation run - Starting at the flightline area near long-term parking, show time is 7:30 a.m. and the run begins at 8 a.m. 

All squadrons are encouraged to participate in the formation run, and any Team Mildenhall or Lakenheath member, their family members, civilians or retirees and their spouses can participate. 

Uniform for participating units is either BDUs and sneakers, DCUs and sneakers, ABUs with sneakers, or Air Force PT uniform. 

For more information, call Horace FauntLeroy at DSN 238-4550, or e-mail horace.fauntleroy@mildenhall.af.mil 

Sept. 16: "Rolling Thunder" motorcycle ride and wreath laying - Motorcyclists will meet at RAF Mildenhall's BXtra at 10:30 a.m., riding to the 100th Air Refueling Wing headquarters building, where a wreath will be laid at the POW/MIA memorial. They will then move onto the south side of base, to leave base via the West Row Gate, making their way to RAF Lakenheath's Liberty Park. There, a poppy wreath will be laid at the Liberty Park "Lest We Forget" wall. 

All authorized motorcycles and riders are encouraged to join the ride but must have current Motorcycle Safety Foundation certification, and safety gear. Yellow or orange safety vests must be worn on RAF Lakenheath. 

For more information, or to join the motorcycle ride, call Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bradsher at DSN 238-6951, or e-mail mark.bradsher@mildenhall.af.mil, or call Staff Sgt. Jonathon Richichi at DSN 226-3292. 

Sept. 17: POW/MIA Fallen Comrades luncheon - Held at the Galaxy Club Ballroom, the luncheon starts at 11 a.m. The meal is barbecue buffet and costs $11 for club members and $13 for nonmembers. The lunch is open to all Team Mildenhall members and their spouses, whether military, civilian or retiree. 

The guest speaker is Wing Commander Dave Waddington, from RAF Marham, who spent six weeks as a prisoner-of-war in Iraq. 

For more information, call Master Sgt. Matthew Becker at DSN 238-7359 or e-mail matthew.becker@mildenhall.af.mil. Alternatively, call Tech. Sgt, Marguerita Volz at DSN 238-2118, or e-mail marguerite.volz@mildenhall.af.mil. 

Sept. 18 to 19: 24-hour vigil - Names of those still listed as missing will be read aloud at the POW/MIA Memorial across from the 100th ARW headquarters building, over a period of 24 hours. 

Team Mildenhall members and their families can choose a time slot (five to 10 minutes) between 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 and 4:30 p.m. Sept. 19, to read out names of fallen comrades. Those wishing to participate are asked to show up 10 minutes prior to their time slot for a short briefing. 

Attire is uniform of the day for military and smart casual for civilians.
Names of POW/MIAs will be read from a list for five minutes at a time (increasing to 10 minutes late during late night/early morning slots) then parade rest at the vigil for five minutes. 

For more information, call Tech. Sgt. William Dominy at DSN 238-3406, or e-mail william.dominy@mildenhall.af.mil. Alternatively, call Tech. Sgt. Yvonne Lavergne at DSN 238-4460, or e-mail yvonne.lavergne@mildenhall.af.mil. 

Sept. 19: Retreat ceremony - Held at the base flagpole outside the 100th ARW headquarters building. Military members, whose names will be provided by first sergeants, will participate in the retreat. 

Participants should be in-place at 4 p.m. Retreat starts at 4:30 p.m. 

For more information, call Master Sgt. Sarrah Hall at DSN 238-2468, or e-mail sarrah.hall@mildenhall.af.mil. Alternatively, call Tech. Sgt. Underwood at DSN 238-3766, or e-mail amy.underwood@mildenhall.af.mil. 

"For the last three years, Team Mildenhall's POW/MIA Fallen Comrades Committee has been recognized as one of the most committed in Europe," Sergeant Hall said. "I am in constant awe as I see the most task-saturated Airmen in (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) dedicate their time to our captured and missing brothers and sisters. 

"It's because of the men and women of RAF Mildenhall that this committee has been, and will continue to be, successful," the committee's vice president said.