Vance Honors Prisoners of War

  • Published
  • By 2ndLt. Tyler Gross
  • 71st Flying Training Wing
Vance Air Force Base, Okla --  Vance Airmen have an opportunity to honor American prisoners of war and servicemembers who have been declared missing in action at 3:50 p.m., Sept. 17, at the flagpole outside Bldg. 500.

Military members across the nation will join together to remember the 140,000 American servicemembers who were either captured or missing since World War I. The ceremony will include of a speech by Col. Roger Witek, 71st Flight Training Wing vice commander, a missing man formation flyover flown by T-38 Talons and a bagpiper.

Francis Hoad, a former Vance trainee who became a prisoner of war during World War II is scheduled to attend.

"This is a unique opportunity for Vance airmen to see an American hero who once walked in their shoes," says Capt. Matthew Cummins, the event's
officer in charge. "It's a sobering reminder and our privilege to pay tribute to the nearly 82,000 American servicemen who still remain missing in action."

All Vance personnel are invited to attend and should be in place no later than 3:50 p.m.

For further information please call 213-6296.