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Air Reserve Personnel Center members honor fallen heroes

  • Published
  • By Cindy Dewey
  • ARPC Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AFB, Colo. --  Seven members of the Air Reserve Personnel Center participated in the 13th Annual Veterans Memorial Day Tribute in Denver May 26.

Col. Pat Blassie, ARPC commander, was guest speaker at the event. Blassie reflected on her family's experience following the death of her brother, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, who was killed in 1972 during the Vietnam War. Her family was informed that he had been killed in action and his remains were not recovered. Twenty-six years later, the family was notified that her brother's remains were interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Blassie stressed that "each hero has a story," and she continues to share the story of her brother.

The first year a family attends the Tribute, they are presented with a banner embroidered with their hero's name. Each consecutive year, the family receives a gold commemorative pin to be attached to the banner. Each gift serves as a remembrance of their hero's bravery. The Veterans Memorial Day Tribute is held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day.

In conjunction with the ceremony, The Forgotten Heroes Campaign presented medals to Army Air Corps Sgt. Lloyd Tokheim and Army PFC Robert Lagerstrom both from WWII; Army Sgt. Miron "Red" Stephens, Korean War; and Capt. Tou Ge Xiong, Vietnam War, Special Guerrilla Unit, Region 2, Laos. These are medals they earned while serving but never received. 

Senior Master Sgt. Donna Edwards, ARPC Tribute participant,  said she volunteered for many reasons, among them was "to lead and set the example for younger Airmen; to show them it is all of our responsibility to give of oneself, to let the families know we're there for them, and it's the right thing to do."