RAF Lakenheath has not forgotten

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Torri Ingalsbe
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Beautiful china and inverted wine glasses sit on the pristine white tablecloth. A candle burns and a crystal vase holds a single red rose. A slice of lemon and a salt shaker are the table's only other contents. The chairs are empty. This is the scene put together for prisoner of war and missing in action remembrance, to ensure people do not forget the sacrifices made for freedom. 

In observance of National POW/MIA Remembrance Week, RAF Lakenheath held a 24-hour vigil at the Lest We Forget Park from Sept. 20 to Sept. 21. More than 100 individuals dedicated their time to help honor the commitment and sacrifice our nation's prisoners of war and those missing in action have made. 

Names are read aloud by a different person every 15 minutes for the full 24 hours. The names range from the Korean War to the present, with more than 1,000 names of individuals who have yet to return home. 

"To read the POW/MIA list is to remember who they are," said Master Sgt. Michael Phillips, 48th Maintenance Operations Squadron, wing avionics manager. Sergeant Phillips is in charge of the POW/MIA remembrance week activities. 

"We tend to forget the sacrifices others have made for us to be here," Sergeant Phillips said. "People have paid for our freedom and we need to honor the individuals who have done so." 

The vigil began with the raising of the colors by the Lakenheath High School color guard. The POW/MIA wreath was laid and there was a moment of silence to reflect on the memory of those left behind. 

"It was a great opportunity for me to participate in something like this," said Airman 1st Class Steven Larson, 48th Communications Squadron, network administrator. Airman Larson was one of many who had the opportunity of reading the names of Americans who have been taken prisoner during times of war and those who are still missing in action. 

"I've always appreciated those who serve but today their sacrifice was more apparent," Airman Larson said. 

The vigil concluded with the playing of Taps and flyover by 48th Fighter Wing F-15s doing the Missing Man Formation. 

"Sometimes it takes a catastrophic event for us to remember how important freedom is," said Sergeant Phillips, "but the people who have paid for our freedom, and are still paying for it, need to be remembered on a daily basis."