Ultimate accountability Published Sept. 25, 2008 By Col. Mark Dillon 60th Air Mobility Wing commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- While standing at the foot of our flagpole during this year's Prisoner(s) of War/ Missing in Action Remembrance Vigil along with dozens of our Travis teammates, I had the opportunity to reflect upon the heroes who sacrificed their freedoms to protect ours. With the sun rising on the American and POW/MIA flags flying at half-staff above us, it was an honor to pay homage to those lost, but not forgotten, warriors. Our nation values the more than 78,000 service members who remain unaccounted for since World War II. Throughout the world, dedicated search and recovery teams, aided by technological advances and improved international relations, conduct operations to reclaim our POW/MIAs. Our country will not stop these efforts until all our heroes are given their much deserved homecoming. Until they return, we must continue to pay respect to them through the symbols of their sacrifice. The POW/MIA flag is the most recognizable symbol of our nation's commitment to fully account for all our brave service members. The black and white flag is simple, yet tremendously powerful -- a silhouette of a bowed head behind barbed wire and guard tower looming. The flag represents our country's dedication and concern to fully resolve the fate of those still missing in order to end the uncertainty for their families. The flag symbolizes ultimate accountability, verbalized when we recite the Airman's Creed verse -- "I will never leave an Airman behind." Accountability is integral to our service's priority to develop and care for our Airmen and their families. I was proud to participate and witness Team Travis' tribute to our missing heroes. The professionalism and reverence displayed by all our defenders who participated in last week's silent vigil was powerful. As the generations pass, we must remain fully accountable, never forget our missing heroes and continue every effort to repatriate and/or recover all of them -- we owe them nothing less!