Members of Team Sheppard Walk, Ruck and Run for POW/MIA remembrance Published Sept. 20, 2024 By Julie Svoboda 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Long after battle cries subside and the fog of war has lifted, some servicemembers and their families continue to bear the trauma of enemy capture or the never-ending grief that comes with not knowing what happened to missing loved ones. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation designating the third Friday in September of every year as National POW/MIA Recognition Day to ensure these sacrifices are never forgotten. Sheppard Air Force Base began the yearly commemoration a day early on September 19 with a 24-Hour run/walk/ruck beginning with an opening ceremony, which included a Missing Man Table ceremony. Names of those who were prisoners of war and missing in action will be read throughout the event. Col. Ryan Serrill, Deputy Commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing Operations Group, gave the opening remarks. While preparing for the speech, he thought about how Airmen in Training, new in their military careers, would witness the ongoing dedication to those who sacrificed so much for their country. “As names are read every time somebody is running by, it's another opportunity to reflect,” he said. “It makes it real. It personalizes the history and the list. There are more than 81,000 still missing in action and over 138,000 previous prisoners of war. So, it really hits home for those who are out here, honoring them with this commitment, with this 24-hour run, walk, ruck, and then just internalizing that for themselves.” Tech Sgt. Charles Dhennin, 362nd Training Squadron Military Training Leader, helped organize the event. “Over the course of the next 24 hours, we have hundreds of volunteers who are going to be running continuously,” he said. “We have volunteers who are Airmen who have just graduated basic training over the last few weeks, and they're coming down here and they're going to be participating, and it's a great way to show them our legacy and our commitment, and also just the realities of being an Airman in the United States military.” Tech Sgt. Justin Allmacher, 361st TS MTL, has a personal tie to the event. One of his great-grandfathers was a POW during World War II. “Hearing the words that Colonel Serrill had to say about past visitors or missing action members, and just being here right now, while the names of past POWs and missing action members are read aloud, it really does just make you feel a lot of emotion regarding what those past people have gone through and the sacrifices they made in their lives in order for us to be where we are today in the country,” he said. More than 300 members of Team Sheppard signed up for the event. Although some will walk, some will run, and some will ruck, they all have one singular mission – to demonstrate their commitment to carry on the legacy of the former prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. The participants will keep the POW/MIA flag moving through the heat of the afternoon and the dark of night until the closing ceremony on September 20. To learn more about POW/MIA Recognition Day, visit this link: https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/POW-MIA/#:~:text=More%20than%2080%2C000%20American%20service,are%20estimated%20to%20be%20recoverable.