LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona -- Luke Air Force Base held a ceremony in honor of Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action Sept. 16, 2016, holding a two-day vigil.
The ceremony began at 3:30 p.m. with Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, 56th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, 56th Fighter Wing command chief, taking the first vigil watch for exactly 56 minutes at the base flag pole.
“Everyone, from our most junior Airman to the most senior, should never forget what molded us into who we are today,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kari Boyles, 56th Dental Squadron superintendent and vigil ceremony participant. “It's important to always remember and respect those service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
The vigil lasted until Sept. 17, 2016, during the final retreat ceremony at 4 p.m.
At this time, Lt. Col. Jeff Tice, U.S. Air Force retired, was introduced as the guest speaker. Tice was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and earned POW medals after returning from being captured during the Gulf War.
“Of all the citizens of the United States of America, we the warriors know very well that freedom is not free,” Tice said. “No one can attest to this better than those of us who have served this great nation in times of war and found themselves being held captive as prisoners of war.”
Tice also gave a briefing of military POW/MIA history statistics and spoke of his physical deprivation during his capture.
“The decreasing number of POW/MIA from each war from WWII to the present is an excellent trend, I pray that it continues and becomes zero,” Tice said.
After Tice’s motivational speech, he gave the order to retire the POW/MIA flag for the ceremony. Leonard then came forward and gave final remarks.
“Thunderbolt Nation, it has been said that you will become what you celebrate, honor and remember. Today we celebrate, honor and remember the hundreds of thousands of POW/MIAs who have gone before us who have, in many ways, paid their sacrifice to the country.”