Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage

By Sgt. Justin GeigerMarch 27, 2017

Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Kristina Bajis, aviation operations specialist with 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, willingly jumped in a mud puddle after hearing spectators encourage her to get dirty during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. Train... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin Andrew, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, participates in the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. Training alongside NATO Allies as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve is vital for the soldiers with the 3... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Race competitor sprints toward the finish line as spectators cheer him on during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony to honor those who were held as POW's at camp Stal... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Polish soldiers stand in formation during the commemoration ceremony honoring the 73rd anniversary of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III POW camp March 24, 2017 at Zagan, Poland. The ceremony honored the men from 14 nations that were held as POWs... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Charles Clark, President of the Former Prisoners' Association of the British Royal Air Force and former prisoner of camp Stalag Luft III spoke at the commemoration ceremony for the 73rd anniversary of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III POW camp Ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Gunn from 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, lays a wreath in honor of those who were held as POWs at camp Stalag Luft III during a commemoration ceremony March 24, 2017 at Zagan, Poland. Members of 3rd ABCT, 4th ID participated in t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. William Hudson, petroleum supply specialist with 64th Brigade Support Battalion reaches the half-way-point during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony to honor th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Kristina Bajis, aviation operations specialist with 3rd ABCT, 4th ID nears the finish line during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony to honor those who wer... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 3rd ABCT, 4th ID reach the half-way-point during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony to honor those who were held as POW's at camp Stalag Luft III durin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Kristina Bajis, Aviation Operations Specialist, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID celebrates with one of her fellow runners during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony to ho... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prisoners of War ceremony commemorates international heritage
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Kristina Bajis, Aviation Operations Specialist, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID is recognized for placing fist in her age group during the 43rd Cross Zaganski 10K race March 25, 2017 at the POW camp museum. The annual race was part of a two-day ceremony... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZAGAN, Poland - In a crowd of about 700 competitors, jockeying for space is quite common, dispersed throughout the starting point are soldiers with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado searching for a bit of a competitive advantage in The Great Escape anniversary race at the Prisoner of War camp museum, March 25, 2017 here.

The POW camp museum held its 43rd annual Cross Zaganski 10K race as part of a two-day ceremony to honor pilots of 14 nations who were held as POWs at Camp Stalag Luft III during World War II.

24-hours before competitors from across the world participated in the Cross Zaganski, Marek Lazarz, Historical and Military Coordinator with the POW camp museum hosted the 73rd annual Great Escape commemoration ceremony.

The Great Escape consisted of three underground tunnels, Tom, Dick and Harry [The code names of each tunnel], built to allow about 200 POWs to escape the prison camp.

On the night of March 24, 1944 it was planned that the escapees would leave in stages. Of the 76 men who escaped, 50 didn't survive the escape, 23 were recaptured and 3 made it back home to the United Kingdom.

"Today we commemorated the anniversary of the Great Escape," said Lazarz "One of the biggest escapes from a POW camp during World War II happened here, 73 years ago, at Stalag Luft III. It was an important event because 76 allied airmen escaped from the camp and 50 of them didn't survive."

The distinguished visitors in attendance during the ceremony were Col. Christopher R. Norrie and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Gunn, Command Team for the 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, Polish Brig. Gen. Stanislaw Czosnek, Daniel Marchewka, Mayor of Zagan, and Charles Clark, President of the Former Prisoners' Association of the British Royal Air Force and former prisoner of camp Stalag Luft III.

"The construction of the tunnels was probably the most audacious operation of the war," said Clarke. "People often see the film and think there were no Americans to make it through the tunnel. I always explain that they helped to build it but were transferred to another compound just before the Great Escape."

Training alongside NATO allies as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve is vital for the soldiers with the 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, however, participating in local traditions to understand Polish culture builds relationships with the nation's local communities.

To demonstrate the commitment to strengthening the relationship with the host nation's communities, 34 "Iron Brigade" soldiers volunteered to honor the Great Escape anniversary by competing in the 10k race.

"Soldiers that are coming to Europe for Operation Atlantic Resolve should immerse themselves into the host nation's culture," said Staff Sgt. Kristina Bajis, Aviation Operations Specialist, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "It's a great way to meet new people and really see the local community come together. It just makes your experience much more enjoyable."

Bajis placed first in her age group and was awarded a special award from race organizers for "Best Mud Jump."

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U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51st country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnership and enhance global security.

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