Incirlik Airmen march for POW/MIA troops Published Sept. 21, 2010 By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Airmen from around base participated in remembrance events honoring American servicemembers who have been prisoners of war, as well as those who are listed as missing in action Sept. 18 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Every third Friday of September is observed as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Incirlik Airmen took the time to honor those POW/MIAs by completing an across-base march. "I was very proud to be a part of Team Incirlik's remembrance events," said Chief Master Sgt. Shirley Jones, 39th Mission Support Group chief. "As we marched, I thought about the thousands of service members who are still missing and unaccounted for from previous wars. The freedom we enjoy today is because of their sacrifice." Eight formations of Airmen, equipped with a POW/MIA flag and a 40-pound rucksack, took turns marching in one hour increments consecutively from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. beginning at the 39th Air Base Wing headquarters around the base chapel and back to the headquarters in silence. "The rucksack is just a small symbol of the suffering POW/MIAs have endured," said Staff Sgt. Travis Leonard, 39th Medical Operations Squadron public health technician. "The flag serves as a symbol of our nation's concern and commitment to resolving, as fully as possible, the fates of Americans that are still prisoners, missing or unaccounted for." The day's event were organized and coordinated by the Air Force Sergeant's Association.