LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In honor of National Prisoner of War (POW)/Missing in Action (MIA) Recognition Day, Laughlin Air Force Base held a series of events to honor those who were prisoners of war and are missing in action.
Airmen gathered at Heritage Park on September 19, 2024, where service members, their families, and community members paid tribute to the sacrifices made by POWs and MIAs.
The ceremony featured the presenting of the colors, lowering of the flag to half-mast and a moment of silence, allowing attendees to reflect on the upcoming day's significance. The ceremony also featured the POW/MIA flag created by the National League of Families in 1971.
Following the opening ceremony, Airmen escorted the flag to the base track, where participants embarked on a 24-hour 'Ruck to Remember,' a physical challenge designed to raise awareness and honor the sacrifices of service members. Teams of airmen, veterans, and community supporters, demonstrated their endurance and resilience by carrying weighted backpacks as they marched, walked, and ran. The ruck march symbolized the heavy burdens borne by those who serve.
As the 24-hour march concluded, a closing ceremony, on September 20, 2024, brought participants together for a final tribute. The gathering commemorated the more than 573,000 American POWs and the 81,000 who are still MIA, honoring the sacrifice and hardships they went though. The final ceremony included a formation of airmen, and the Laughlin Air Force Base Honor Guard folded and presented a U.S. Flag to Mr. Jesse Valdez, commander, Del Rio American Legion Post 595.
Through these events, Laughlin Air Force Base reaffirmed its dedication to honoring the legacies of POWs and MIAs, ensuring their stories and sacrifices remain a vital part of military history.