The Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC programs will be holding a 24-hour Veterans’ Day vigil to honor prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, near the flag pole on the Armory Building’s west side.

Cadets and midshipmen from each of the three branches will take turns in 15-minute shifts reading the names of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action soldiers nonstop throughout the vigil, while two other ROTC members march with rifles, guarding the flag.

“Many men and women have died defending our freedoms and our liberties,” said Air Force Cadet Capt. Corey Erickson, senior in Engineering. “After I go, this is one of the ways I’d like to be remembered. Just like the (POW/MIA) slogan says, ‘Gone but not forgotten.'”

The event is organized by the Arnold Air Society, an honorary service and professional organization within the Air Force that is focused on community service. The group is named for Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, the only Air Force officer to achieve the rank of five-star general.

Cadet 1st Lt. Kelly Geers, junior in LAS, was given the task last spring of organizing the annual event. She said she has had the event in the back of her mind since then and began planning heavily in August.

At 10 a.m. a flag detail of four cadets will raise the colors while an Army cadet plays “Reveille” on the trumpet.

Once the colors are raised, the reading of the names of POW/MIA soldiers will begin. It will end at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Approximately 150 cadets and midshipmen have volunteered to take part in the event, about 50 from each service branch.

“They weren’t over there fighting for fun,” said Cadet Third Class Laura Mills, junior in LAS, who will be reading the names at 10 p.m. on Friday. “They were doing it to defend our freedom. It helps all of us going into the military to see that what we’re doing is worth it.”

The government’s official list of POW/MIA soldiers dates back to the Korean War.

“I’ve been able to compile a list for a couple camps from World War II but not a complete list,” Geers said. “One of those lists is 8,000 names alone.”

At the conclusion of the reading Saturday morning, the closing ceremonies will begin. A cadet volunteer will offer prayers of invocation and convocation.

The highlight of the event will be a speech by World War II veteran Tony Bilek, a winner of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart and member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame. Bilek is the author of “No Uncle Sam – The Forgotten of Bataan.”

Born in Chicago in 1919, he served in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese and was forced to take part in the Bataan Death March.

American POWs, many in poor health due to spending months with limited supplies, were forced to march over 100 miles to Camp O’Donnell with very little food, water, or sleep. The march began on April 10, 1942 and lasted over a week. Those who fell behind were executed.

Bilek remained in captivity until after the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

“A lot of (POWs) are forgotten about, and they’ve suffered more than any of us can imagine,” Geers said.

Through a cadet who worked with another member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame, they were able to get Bilek to speak at this year’s closing ceremonies.

Geers said she hopes people do not see the vigil as a pro-war event but a way of recognizing those who have made sacrifices in service of their country.

“The strength that they held during the months or years they were in captivity deserves to be honored,” she said.