TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In America, there are various events that the phrase “Never Forget,” is attached to: Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the Holocaust and more. Additionally, there is a time in which that phrase is attached to those that paid dearly for the aftermath of such occurrences. We honor those for their sacrifices and commitment to service – National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
In the United States, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on the third Friday in September. It honors those who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. This year, Oct. 3-4 Tyndall continued to honor these individuals with the 30th Annual POW/MIA 24-hour Vigil Run. An event local to Tyndall, where Airmen on the base give their time to run a continuous 24-hour period to ensure the sacrifice of American heroes is not forgotten.
“I appreciate everyone’s work, time and energy that has gone into this to really honor this tradition, one that dates back to 1989,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Derrick Iwanenko, 81st Range Control Squadron commander, during the opening ceremony for the run. “In that year, the commander of the 81st RCS, Lt. Col. [Allen] Bazzel, initiated this 24-hour vigil run. His goal was simply that we would never forget the sacrifices that were made by those POWs along with those who have been missing action.
“Lt. Col. Bazzel and four of his Airmen ran for 24 hours straight on the Tyndall flightline,” Iwanenko explained. “They would hand a baton back and forth to each other until the completion of the event. Upon his retirement, Lt. Col. Bazzel charged the Airmen of the 81st RCS to continue this event. That is something we have done for now 30 years.”
After Iwanenko’s remarks, Col. Brain Laidlaw and Chief Master Sgt. Craig Williams, 325th Fighter Wing commander and command chief respectively, were the first individuals to run for Team Tyndall. When they finished their run carrying the 325th FW guidon, they passed the POW/MIA baton to the next runner. The Baton, passed from person to person, albeit not heavy, provided added symbolism of the weight and need to safeguard the memory and hope held for POWs and those missing in action.
“The vigil run is important to me because it honors those before me in the military who sacrificed everything,” said Airman 1st Class Ellaina Ontiberoz, 81st RCS 30th annual POW/MIA run event coordinator. “It’s my job, and everyone in Team Tyndall, to honor them in such a way.”
Although young in her military career, Ontiberoz felt the connection to POWs and those missing in action due to the tradition of this run that is steeped in the history of her squadron.
“I heard about it last year when I was an Airman,” she elaborated. “I was brand new to my squadron, and I thought it was a really special thing to go out and run for 24 hours. It seemed quite amazing to me. When my captain offered me the opportunity to be the point of contact for the event I took it and just kind of ran with it.”
Over the course of the 24 hours, there was not a moment that passersby did not see an Airman running with the baton, as outreach and participation was on high. More than 300 individuals participated in the event.
“Today we are proud to honor all prisoners of war, those still missing in action as well as Lt. Col. Bazzel’s vision,” Iwanenko proclaimed in his closing remarks.
“I would like to ask we all take this opportunity to reflect on the responsibility we have to emulate the unfaltering devotion shown by our former POWs while we keep the faith with those that have yet to come home,” he concluded.