POW/MIA Day Run/Ruck/Walk

This POW/MIA Day 24-hour Walk/Ruck/Run is to honor all POW/MIAs past & present, their families, & friends. On Thursday-Friday, 14-15 September 2023, from 0800-0800 we will honor all the above by participating in a 24-hour walk/ruck/run live at Ramstein Air Base. Please show your support by sending an RSVP to me & MSgt Jessica Huynh via email at Ryan.Hines.1@us.af.mil & Jessica.T.Huynh.mil@health.mil for the event so we can ensure the dissemination of all pertinent information, etc.

However, the second option is participating in this event virtually at a location that best suits you, & at your convenience. Please see the attached flyer with a QR code to sign-up or visit the below link. In addition, please see the below POW/MIA Day Walk/Ruck/Run FB Live link to join the live feed during the opening & closing ceremony event here at Ramstein Air Base on Thursday 14 September 2023, at 0700 local. Thank you all for your time & support.

Note:  You can support this event by walking, rucking, running (treadmill is optional), Stairmaster, or bike, etc. You can sign-up for this virtual event option (at your leisure) by either scanning the Runsignup.com QR code in the digital flyer or visit the below link. Thank you all for your time & support. 

The History of the POW/MIA Flag & POW/MIAs:

In 1971, Mrs. Mary Hoff, an MIA wife & member of the National League of American Prisoners & Missing in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida TIMES-UNION, Mrs. Hoff designed a flag to represent our missing men & women. 

The flag is black, bearing in the center, in black & white, the emblem of the League. The emblem is a white disk bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man, watch tower with a guard holding a rifle, & a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW & MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black & white wreath above the white motto YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

A POW/MIA Flag, which flew over the White House on the first National POW/MIA Recognition Day on 21 September 1988, was installed in the United States Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th session of Congress. The leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support. The POW/MIA Flag is the only flag displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda. It stands as a powerful symbol of our national commitment to our POW/MIAs until the fullest possible accounting for Americans has been achieved.

Friday, 15 September 2023 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. As of today, the number of Americans still missing & unaccounted for is more than 81,500. Thank you all for your time & support for this event.    

POW/MIAs by the numbers (https://www.dpaa.mil/Our-Missing/Past-Conflicts/):

World War II:  72,193

Korean War:  7,492

Vietnam War:  1,578

Cold War:  126

Gulf War/Iraq War/Afghanistan War:  5

El Dorado Canyon:  1

For more information, please visit National League of POW/MIA Families at: 

https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/ 

SignUpGenius.com link (unit in-person event signup):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FAFAC29A1FDC52-powmia1#/ 

Runsignup.com link (virtual option to participate wherever at your leisure):  https://runsignup.com/Race/RP/Ramstein/POWMIADayRunRuckWalk2023

Facebook Live link (POW/MIA Remembrance Breakfast):  https://shorturl.at/dmowQ  

Facebook Live link (POW/MIA Day Walk/Ruck/Run & Retreat Ceremony):  https://shorturl.at/ixzL1  

Please share as you see fit to support!