By ALISA THOMAS

Staff Writer

The Arnold Air Society held its annual 24-hour Prisoner Of War/Missing In Action Vigil on April 2 at the Ruston Civic Center, located at 401 N. Trenton St.

The Arnold Air Society, a professional honorary service organization whose job is to promote the Air Force to the people in the community and on campus through service projects, has been in existence since 1949.

Thirty cadets from Tech's Air Force ROTC Detachment 305 participated in the vigil to raise awareness of those who are still missing in action.

Chris Powers, Cadet Capt. of Air Force ROTC Detachment 305 and a senior human resource management major, considers his participation in the vigil as the least Tech's Air Force ROTC cadets can do.

"[It is] the best thing that we can do for our country, veterans and those missing in action who have never come home," Powers said.

The Arnold Air Society vigils have been held since the Vietnam War because of the number of people missing in action during that war and wars thereafter.

The awareness part of the vigil involves two cadets dressed as soldiers; one cadet is imprisoned in a cage while the other soldier is armed and standing guard of the prisoner. Both soldiers must remain silent for their hour-long shift.

Jason Woodley, a commander of the Arnold Air Society, a cadet captain of Air Force ROTC Detachment 305 and a junior history major, considers the society's purpose for holding these vigils as showing their thanks to prisoners of war and reminding the community of these prisoners.

"The vigils are a small token of our appreciation and we want to make the community remember what [POWs] did for us and what [their] families are going through," Woodley said.

Following the vigil, a ceremony was held beginning with a speech by Retired U.S. Army Maj. Lou Barber, who flew a helicopter during the Vietnam War.

Another highlight of the ceremony was the flag presentation, which was presented by the Valkyrie Honor Guard of Air Force ROTC Detachment 305.

Unit Admissions Officer Maj. Jim Tucker considers the ceremony and the vigil a constant reminder to people in the community of those soldiers who have risked and still risk their lives for this country.

Tucker said, "We want to remind people that we still have men, women and soldiers of this country who have not been accounted for yet."