RAF Mildenhall announces POW/MIA events

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  There are 83,345 U.S. service members who are missing in action from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, Iraq and other conflicts.

In remembrance of these individuals and prisoners of war, several events are scheduled here for the week of Sept. 16-20.

The events include:

Sept. 16 - Team Mildenhall 5K Run in honor of POW/MIA week at Hardstand Fitness Center at 3:30 p.m. Airmen participating in the run are authorized to wear a POW/MIA T-shirt in place of the Air Force physical training top. Contact your organization representative to purchase POW/MIA T-shirts.

Sept. 17 - All day movie screening of The Great Escape at the RAF Mildenhall Base Theater beginning at 7 a.m. The movie is about POWs planning to escape from a German camp during World War II.

Sept. 18 - POW/MIA Luncheon at the Galaxy Club at 11 a.m. The luncheon will provide attendees an opportunity to hear the personal stories of POWs first-hand and ask questions.

Sept. 19 - "Rolling Thunder" Remembrance Ride at RAF Lakenheath at 8:30 a.m.
This is a motorcycle ride with U.S. Air Force Airmen and civilians, Ministry of Defence civilians, and contract workers from RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. The ride will begin on RAF Lakenheath and riders will visit several memorials on the base and in the local community before ending at Remembrance Park on RAF Mildenhall at 1:30 p.m. with a wreath laying.

Sept. 19 - 24-Hour Vigil at Remembrance Park at 4:15 p.m.
Volunteers take turns reading the names of POWs and those currently listed as MIA at the base memorial. After reading for five minutes, they are relieved by another volunteer and proceed to stand watch over the memorial for another five minutes. This rotation continues until all of the names are read.

Sept. 20 - Retreat Ceremony at 100th Air Refueling Wing Headquarters at 4:30 p.m.
A formation of U.S. Air Force Airmen from units across RAF Mildenhall will participate in a traditional retreat ceremony where the base flag is lowered from the flag pole in a ceremonious manor. A flag security detail folds the flag and presents it to a member of the 100th Air Refueling Wing leadership as a way to show the flag is in safe hands. This event pays tribute to the American Flag, signifies the end of the duty day, and will serve as the official closing of this year's POW/MIA Remembrance Week.

"It's important as a nation to remember our POW/MIA as some have paid the ultimate sacrifice and others carry the physical and emotional scars that will never heal," said Senior Master Sgt. Cornelious Thompson, POW/MIA committee chairman. "It's important that we let the families know we haven't forgotten the sacrifice their loved ones made and we will not rest until they all make it home."

For more information, contact Thompson at DSN 238-4920 or commercial at 01638-544920 or by email at cornelious.thompson@us.af.mil.