Troops in Afghanistan Remember POW and MIA

Service members in Afghanistan honor National POW/MIA Recognition Day
DVIDS 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
Story by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Swafford
September 17, 2015

Currently there are more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency works to provide the fullest possible accounting for missing personnel to their families and the nation.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave Julazadeh, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, gives a speech during the Prisoners Of War, Missing In Action Remembrance and Retreat Ceremony at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2015. The ceremony was in honor of National POW/MIA Remembrance Day, which is observed annually in the United States on the third Friday of September.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Swafford/Released)

The third Friday of every September is observed as National prisoners of war/missing in action Recognition Day. Service members stationed here observed this day and honored POWs/MIAs with a remembrance and retreat ceremony today and a 24-hour run earlier in the month.

The events allowed Service members and civilians time to pause and remember the sacrifices and service of those who were POWs, as well as those who are MIA, and their families.

“We gather as a reminder of our responsibility to stand behind those who served our nation,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dave Julazadeh, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. “Because of their valor and selfless devotion to the protection of the country they love, our nation owes these great Americans a debt we can never fully repay.”

“Every person who has worn the uniform or fought in battle understands the nature of sacrifice,” said Julazadeh. “And as long as Americans are willing to fight for freedom, our destiny will involve sacrifice; sacrifice by those who serve and sacrifice by their loved ones.”
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