 Last week I was honored to recognize Lt. Col. Richard C. Brenneman and National POW/MIA Recognition Day during a meeting of the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be observed at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at the Solano County Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Vacaville City Hall, 650 Merchant Street.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 through a proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter and each year observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans' facilities. No matter where they are held POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies share the common purpose of honoring those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.
More than 81,000 service members and civilians remain unaccounted for from conflicts dating back to World War II. This includes nearly 1,000 American service members from World War II, over 450 from the Korean War and more than 1,000 from Vietnam.
Nearly 30 current or former Solano County residents have been identified as prisoners of war. In addition, scores of prisoners of war and the remains of those missing in action have come through Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. before being transported to their home base. One of the repatriated Americans from the Vietnam War is Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Brenneman, a Vacaville resident. He was forced to eject from his jet over North Vietnam while flying his 51st mission on November 8, 1967. Upon his capture by the North Vietnamese, he would end up spending 1,953 days as a prisoner of war. He returned home on March 14, 1973 and was on the same return flight as naval aviator and prisoner of war, John McCain, who would go on to become a United States senator.
 Lt. Col. Richard C. Brenneman (left) received a resolution from the Board of Supervisors recognizing his contributions to our country. The resolution also called attention to National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Last week I was honored to recognize Lt. Col. Brenneman and National POW/MIA Recognition Day during a meeting of the Solano County Board of Supervisors. In addition, Jeff Jewell, adjutant for Vacaville American Legion Post 165, brought a banner that is a replica of the sign that greeted POW’s and the remains of those missing in action when they arrived on the flightline at Travis Air Force Base.
At 10 a.m. this Friday, Sept. 20, Lt. Col. Brenneman will be the guest speaker during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day event at the Solano County Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Vacaville City Hall, 650 Merchant Street. I encourage all that can attend to come out to hear from a true American hero and stand with others as we remember the debt we owe to our POWs and MIAs and to their families.
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Since 2003, Supervisor John M. Vasquez has had the privilege to represent the 4th Supervisorial District covering Northern Solano County. The district includes portions of Vacaville and Dixon. He can be reached at (707) 784-6129 or JMVasquez@SolanoCounty.com. |
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