By Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published September 09, 2021
U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Ayers, 35th Mission Support Group chaplain, provides the invocation before commencing the Prisoners of War and Missing In Action (POW/MIA) 24-hour vigil run and walk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 2, 2021. Runners keep the flag in constant motion for 24 hours to remember POW and MIA personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
Participants carry the Prisoners of War and Missing In Action (POW/MIA) flag during the POW and MIA 24-hour vigil run and walk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 2, 2021. The purpose of the vigil is to remember all the service members who have not returned home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th Fighter Wing commander, participates in the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) 24-hour vigil run and walk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 2, 2021. This annual event is dedicated to honoring and not forgetting POW and MIA personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
A balloon with a U.S. flag represents a fallen service member during the Prisoners of War and Killed In Action 24-hour vigil run and walk at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 2, 2021. The 13 flags and balloons were placed by the track to symbolize the U.S. Sailor and 12 Marines who were killed in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th Fighter Wing commander, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Maj. Gen. Takahiro Kubota, 3rd Air Wing commander, salute in honor of the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) personnel during the POW and MIA remembrance retreat ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 3, 2021. The two militaries came together to honor members who have not returned home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
Team Misawa members render salutes as the United States and the Japanese flags are lowered during the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) remembrance retreat at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 3, 2021. After being lowered, the national flags were raised with the POW and MIA flag. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th Fighter Wing commander, concludes the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) remembrance retreat ceremony with a speech at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 3, 2021. The flag was in constant motion for 24-hours until completion of the vigil. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)
A U.S. Air Force officer stands at parade rest during the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) remembrance retreat ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 3, 2021. The annual ceremony is dedicated to all POW and MIA personnel who haven’t returned home since World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa)