CRANE, Ind. - Crane Army Ammunition Activity joined with Naval Support Activity Crane, and Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, in hosting the annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day Ceremony here Sept. 16.
During the ceremony, held indoors due to a threat of thunderstorms, former Vietnam POW Air Force Maj. Gen. (Ret) Edward J. Mechenbier served as the ceremony's guest speaker. He spoke the audience about the conflicts of both today and the past and the importance of remembering and honoring their sacrifices.
"We are lucky enough and blessed enough to have been born in the USA, but sometimes that can get taken away," he told an audience made up of young and old, military and civilian. "Today we remain united in our vow to never forget."
Mechenbier, was shot down on his 113th combat mission, his 80th over North Vietnam, and was a Prisoner of War for nearly six years. On his return to the U.S., he was awarded the Silver Star with the first Oak Leaf Cluster for his resistance to demands by the North Vietnamese for information, confessions and propaganda materiel. He received the Bronze Star medal with "V" device for his efforts to conduct himself strictly in accordance with the Code of Conduct while POW.
During his speech, CAAA Commander Col. Linwood Clark spoke about America's commitment to finding those who are missing in action or a prisoner of war and returning them home. "Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that no nation in history has gone to such care, expense, or effort to locate its fallen. U.S. government dive-and-salvage teams, forensic scientists, and investigators scour the globe to seek a full accounting. Every year new remains are found and identified by these teams from past conflicts. We do it mindful of what we owe POW/MIAs and their loved ones. And we do it in affirmation of our strongest belief as a people: that every life is precious," Clark said.
NSWC Commander Capt. Charles LaSota also emphasized the importance of not forgetting the sacrifices that have been made in his remarks to the audience. He said, "We must never forget Americans from all wars that have been stripped of their dignity and freedoms. We must never forget their treatment at the hands of their captors, the physical and mental abuse that they suffered in our defense. We pray for those who are still missing in action and we feel the despair of their families."
Employees, veterans and service members also took part in the ceremony. IU Army and Air Force ROTC provided the color guard for the ceremony. Army and Navy employees laid a wreath at the POW Monument and placed a yellow ribbon on the POW Tree. A seven man firing party from a local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts fired three volleys and Taps played to honor those who are missing and who died in action. The Bloomfield High School choir group, Center Stage, performed during the ceremony.
Each of the former POWs was presented with an appreciation gift for their sacrifices to the country. Following the ceremony, Crane honored the guests at a luncheon where many of the veterans provided testimonials of their experiences as POWs.
CAAA was established in Oct. 1977 and is a tenant of the Navy Region Midwest, Naval Support Activity Crane. The Army activity maintains ordnance professionals and infrastructure to receive, store, ship, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components.
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