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La Vida Nethercutt, Store Director of the Columbus AFB Commissary unveils a flag during the 50th during the 50th Anniverssary Vietnam War Commemoration ceremony held Nov. 8 in front of the Columbus AFB Commissary. Immediately following the ceremony the flag was taken on a 5k run in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar)

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After the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration Flag ceremony, runners began a 5k run Nov. 8 beginning at the Columbus AFB Commissary. Greg Runyon, Assistant Store Director of the Columbus AFB Commissary carried the commemorative flag throughout the base run. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar)

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Col. Jim Sears, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander receives the flag commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War from Greg Runyon, Assistant Store Director of the Columbus AFB Commissary at the conclusion of the Base Community Council luncheon Nov. 8 at the Columbus Club. Runyon asked the wing to carry the flag in the City of Columbus Veterans Day parade on Nov. 9. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Sonic Johnson)

Flag commemorates war veterans

Published Nov. 8, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A flag commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War was unveiled Nov. 8 at the Columbus Air Force Base Commissary.

The flag was unveiled and handed to a flag runner who held the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration Flag during a 5k fun run after the ceremony.

"As you run this morning, and however you spend your Veterans' Day weekend, I encourage you to think about those that have come before you in service to our nation," said Col. Scott Vaughn, 14th Mission Support Group Commander. "Specifically this morning, think about those veterans that served during the Vietnam War."

During the Vietnam War, approximately three-and-a-half million troops saw service in Southeast Asia, approximately 47,000 troops lost their lives and approximately 1,600 are still unaccounted for.

"Today, we pay small tribute to the men and women that sacrificed a great deal on behalf of their nation," said Vaughn.

When placed next to the flags of World War II and the Korean War Commemoration Flags, the Vietnam War Commemoration Flag will signify the Vietnam Veterans taking their rightful place among generations of U.S. veterans.

The new commemorative flag will also be carried by base Airman in the Columbus, Miss. Veterans' Day Parade on Nov. 10.