CRANE, Ind. -- Crane Army Ammunition Activity joined with Naval Support Activity Crane and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in hosting its annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day Ceremony here Sept. 22.
Three former POWs and two spouses of a deceased former POW were honored during the joint military ceremony. Civilian and uniformed members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard were on hand to pay tribute. During the ceremony, Crane honored the guests at a luncheon where many of the veterans provided testimonials of their experiences as POWs.
The annual event has allowed former prisoners of war to get to know each other better while being honored. Many of them expressed their gratitude for the event and appreciated that the people at Crane remembered those who were POWs.
Michael Clark, President of Rolling Thunder Indiana Chapter 1, was the guest speaker. During his speech he educated the crowd on the support of his organization in efforts to find those Service members still listed as missing in action.
A seven-man firing party from the Crane and Odon Veterans of Foreign Wars posts fired three volleys while Taps played to honor those who are missing or who died in action. The Bloomfield High School choir group, Center Stage, performed during the ceremony and the Bloomfield High School NJROTC provided the color guard for the ceremony.
Crane leadership in attendance included NSWC Crane Division Commanding Officer Capt. JT Elder, NSA Crane Commanding Officer Cmdr. Timothy Craddock and Crane Army Chief of Staff Dan Wiley.
Established Oct. 1977, Crane Army Ammunition Activity produces and provides logistical support to meet conventional munitions requirements in support of Joint Force readiness. It is one of 14 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial bases under the U.S. Army Materiel Command, which include arsenals, depots, activities and ammunition plants.
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