Dover hosts day long vigil, remembrance event

Published Sept. 22, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The air was silent, the four Airmen stood vigil at the flagpole, never moving from their post until they were relieved by the next four who would continue to stand silent guard. These Airmen were waiting for their brothers in arms to come home, in honor of Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Remembrance Day, which was observed Sept. 17.

Dover AFB observed the day in a couple ways, not the least being the vigil. There was also a remembrance run that ran from 4 p.m. Sept. 16 to 4 p.m. Sept. 17. This run was organized by three individuals; Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Lausier, 436th Maintenance Squadron flight chief, Senior Airman Nick Bowser, 436th MXS Airspace Ground Equipment journeyman, and Airman 1st Class Anthony Luna, 436th MXS AGE apprentice.

"We started planning for the event about a month before," said Sergeant Lausier. "I did this at my other duty stations before coming to Dover AFB, so I identified two Airmen who could help me get this off the ground, and they ran with it. We developed a 24 hour schedule that was built around 10 minute time slots. We filled the schedule pretty quick and still had people calling to see if there was room."

There were 288 time spots available for the run, and all were filled. There were even extra runners during the run, following behind the two flag carriers as they ran the route around the perimeter of the POW/MIA vigil.

"We managed 317 miles total from 155 volunteers," said Airman Bowser. "This run was really to get people to remember the sacrifice. A lot of people don't think about it. We had a pretty bad storm during the overnight portion of the run, but we didn't lose a single volunteered, we all endured the weather to come out here and honor the sacrifice of those who came before us."

When asked if they were planning a repeat of the event next year, Airman Luna said, "We are definitely planning another, larger event for next year. This year was our first attempt at doing this event, and we have everyone participating, even with the weather. I really think this event was a success."

The POW/MIA vigil event started at 6 a.m. Sept. 17 and ran until 4 p.m. Volunteers for the vigil stood facing away from the flag pole, keeping a silent vigil for those who have yet to return.

"We're here to pay respect to POWs," said Airman 1st Class Lavandis Acklin, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron cryogenics technician. "They know more about waiting than we do, some have even given the ultimate sacrifice to the United States. We are here to respect that sacrifice."

The event ended with a ceremony followed by retreat. The ceremony featured a guest speaker, a World War Two veteran, William Fleischauer, who had been a prisoner of war. The ceremony also featured the Dover AFB honor guard firing a three gun salute to those still missing in action or active prisoners of war.

Col. Manson Morris, 436th Airlift Wing commander, also said a few words about the importance of Dover AFB's mission of bringing fallen servicemembers home, and how there is a strong link between each generation of servicemembers, each one learning from and supporting the next, always remembering those who came before, with the same dedication to those yet to come.

"The men and women of the 436th Airlift Wing pay special tribute to those POW and MIA and their families, for their sacrifices to this country," said Senior Master Sgt. Mike Snodgrass, 436th Airlift Wing Inspector General superintendent. "We applaud the sacrifices of repatriated Americans. Today held a great emphasis on standing by those who are still unaccounted for and returning them home."