SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- In observance of National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day, Team Shaw hosted its annual POW/MIA ceremony, followed by a 24-hour ruck/run starting at 10 a.m. at Shaw Air Force Base Sept. 18, 2025.
This recognition event was established in 1979 by a proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter and is observed annually on the third Friday in September to honor the sacrifices and legacy of America’s POWs and those still MIA. There are approximately 82,000 Americans missing from World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War.
This year, participants carried a flag around the base's Memorial Park trail in continuous motion for 24 hours, a symbolic gesture ensuring that the memory of our nation’s heroes is never forgotten and always carried forward.
The opening ceremony featured remarks from distinguished guest, Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Lance Newman. The ceremony also recognized Retired Col. William Oden, a Vietnam veteran, setting the tone for the ruck/run and emphasizing the importance of upholding traditions like the POW/MIA ceremony.
“The black and white POW/MIA flag we see before us carries four simple yet powerful words - ‘you are not forgotten,’ said Newman. “It waves as a daily reminder of those who were captured, those who endured captivity, and those who never made it home.”
Multiple units from across the installation, as well as their families and other civilians, participated, some as individuals and others in full teams, reinforcing Shaw’s collective commitment to honoring those who served and those who never returned.
“Personally, I had a couple of friends who were POWs,” said Oden. “We should never forget our brothers and sisters who are still unaccounted for or held hostage. We must never stop fighting to bring them back home.”
Shaw’s 24-hour ruck/run afford all – military and civilian alike – time to reflect, honor, and take part in a time-honored tribute that symbolizes the unbroken bond between the nation and its military heroes.