Members of the New Mexico Museum of Space History participated in the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at Holloman Air Force Base on September 19. The event featured Paul "Chez" Sanchez, a retired Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force, and Dr. Rebecca Michael, a Senior Instructional Coordinator and former Navy Air Medivac Hospital Corpsman, who delivered this year's tribute.
The annual observance takes place on the third Friday of September to honor American prisoners of war and those missing in action. Over 600,000 Americans have been classified as POW or MIA throughout history. The ceremony at Holloman AFB included a week-long commemoration with a 24-hour run, vigil, and formal ceremony.
Twelve service members from New Mexico were named to represent all POW/MIAs: PFC Max Coleman Simpson (Army), SSgt Stan Leroy Corfield (USMC), Maj John Sanders Oldham (USMC), SSgt Robert Steven Trujillo (Army), Col Bobby Gene Neeld (USAF), Capt Mitchell Sim Lane (USAF), SFC Ricardo Gonzalez Davis (Army), SFC Frederick Daniel Herrera (Army), Maj Calvin Walter Maxwell (Army), WO Bain Wendell Wiseman Jr. (Army), Lt Col Scott Winston McIntire (USAF), and Lt Col Robert David Morrissey (USAF).
President Calvin Coolidge once said, "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." This sentiment underscores the importance of remembering those who sacrificed their freedom and lives for the country.
Information from this article can be found here.
