JOINT BASE SAN ANTIONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas-- Members of the Joint Base San Antonio community took part in a 5K run commemorating Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day Sept. 18, 2021, at Heritage Park on JBSA-Randolph.
POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and is recognized annually on the third Friday of September. Members at JBSA observed the day on Saturday to show that no service member is ever forgotten.
“This is a time for us to commemorate heroes of America who went the extra mile, and some the ultimate sacrifice, for the freedoms and American way of life as we know it,” said Senior Master Sgt. Sidney Frith, event coordinator and 502nd Air Base Wing command and control operations superintendent.
The event started with the handoff of a POW/MIA flag which shows an image of a POW silhouette and the words, “You Are Not Forgotten,” written at the bottom.
“The flag handoff is necessary to show that everyone is behind the cause of the flag,” Frith said. “By handing the flag to the lead runner, it shows we are dedicated to teamwork, and we will blindly go wherever needed to pursue the safe return of our heroes.”
The run also included poster boards along the route showing pictures and information on some of the MIA who still have not returned home.
“As a committee, we pulled together to do research so that we could bring the commemoration closer to home,” Frith said. “Together, we found heroes who were from Texas and shared their stories. They are just a small sample of the unaccounted-for personnel.”
Approximately 200 service members, family and community members signed up to participate in the run.
Frith said the event was just one of the many other events happening around the globe for the same cause.
“Our ability to come together for the commemoration of the POW/MIAs is a reflection of a much bigger commitment to never forgetting those lost, as well as those to the left and right of us,” Frith said.