YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Team Yokota held a 24-hour vigil run and recognition ceremonies in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 19-20.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day serves as a time to remember and honor service members who were prisoners of war and the over 81,000 service members that are still missing in action.
After a wreath dedication and remarks from Yokota leadership, the 24-hour vigil run began at the Samurai Fitness Center Track. For 24 hours, different groups of members throughout the installation took turns bearing the U.S. and POW/MIA flags as they completed laps around the track. The vigil run concluded with a recognition ceremony in front of the 374th Airlift Wing headquarters building.
“Each year we instinctively stop what we’re doing to remember and to reflect,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brett Cochran, 374th AW deputy commander. “We share a bond with our missing heroes, and we are in awe of their sacrifice.”