Grace Ratley and Xavier Adams-Stewart, from Addie R. Lewis Middle School, present a wreath during the 2012 Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action ceremony Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Retired Lt. Col. Bruce McKenty, national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, was the guest speaker at the 2012 Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action ceremony Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Les Matheson, a retired lieutenant colonel, plays “Amazing Grace” on the bag-pipes during the POW/MIA event Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) A Patriot Guard member watches the Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action table setting during the POW/MIA event Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Joint service color guard members present the colors during the 2012 Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action ceremony Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Specialist Angelia Mowery adjusts the American flag during the presentation of the colors at the 2012 Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action ceremony Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Petty Officer 1st Class Donald Wintersteen rings the bell each time a chorus of voices sounds “We remember” during the Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action table setting ceremony during the POW/MIA event Sept 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Eglin’s Honor Guard salutes after their rifle volley during the 2012 Prisoner-of-War, Missing-in-Action ceremony Sept. 21 at the Air Force Armament Museum. The ceremony paid tribute to those military members who have yet to return home from defending America. The event was hosted by the 53rd Wing and featured guest speakers, honor guard procedures and a flyover by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) Team Eglin remembers with POW/MIA Recognition Day by Randy Gon Team Eglin Public Affairs 9/24/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Hundreds gathered for the annual Prisoner-of-War and Missing-in-Action recognition ceremony at the Air Force Armament Museum here, Sept. 21. The 53rd Wing hosted the ceremony, featuring retired Lt. Col. Bruce McKenty, the national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, as guest speaker. The event serves as a reminder of the risks and sacrifices American service members and their families make. "Today we pay tribute to special American heroes; those military men and women who suffered unspeakable torture at the hands of our enemies," said McKenty. "We also pay tribute to those of our brothers, whose fate still remains unknown for they have never been able to return home to their mothers, their fathers, their wives, their families." During the ceremony, Dr. Ginger Maddox honored two Purple Heart recipients, Staff Sgts. Kevin Parke and Christopher Lacy of the 96th Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight, each with a Quilt of Valor from her local non-profit organization, Flying Needles Quilt Guild of Niceville, Fla. A third quilt was also presented in recognition of all the fallen heroes of the state of Florida. It will hang in the museum. Under flags held by the Patriot Guard, younger service members joined older veterans outside for a formal wreath laying and rifle volley performed by the Eglin Honor Guard. "It means a lot to see them," said Senior Airman Rebecca Smith, 24, of the 96th Surgical Operations Squadron. "You're always a brother or sister in arms, no matter your age." The ceremony concluded with taps followed by the missing man flyover performed by the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. "We should always have the mindset of the past and who came before us," said Capt. Kevin Lawhon of the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron and event leader for the ceremony. "Not just once a year on the national day, but all the time."