Each year, Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC take part in the POW/MIA run to remember United States military personnel listed as missing in action (MIA) or taken as prisoners of war (POW). On Nov. 9, the annual run took place, beginning at the Military Science building on campus and ending at Memorial Park.

Members of Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC were accompanied by an Omaha Police escort on the run.

“It’s a somber event for us,” senior cadet Nicholas Lynch, who serves as the Public Affiars Officer for the Army ROTC unit, said. “We’re supposed to run in silence and remember the sacrifices that MIA and POW made for us.”

The group ran through Omaha neighborhoods and concluded at Memorial Park for the memorial ceremony where Greg O’Leary, an alum of Creighton and the Creigthon Medical School, spoke. O’Leary was part of ROTC at CU and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he returned to Creighton for his surgical residency.

“It was very interesting that [Dr. O’Leary] was a cadet here at Creighton around 55 years ago,” sophomore cadet William Heida said. “It was great to have someone so close speak to us … that could be me 55 years from now.”

Heida also mentioned that he has a personal connection to POW/MIA and to this run.

“I really like the purpose of it because my great uncle was a prisoner of war back in the day … so [the recognition] means a lot to me,” Heida said.

Junior cadet Brady Moran said he enjoyed Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC joining forces and building camaraderie during this run for the common purpose of “honoring those who came before us and did so much for our nation.”

In addition to the POW/MIA run, Army ROTC organizes several other events throughout the year, including a holiday food drive. They will be accepting donations for the drive during the holiday season.