Barksdale hosts POW/MIA and Purple Heart luncheon Published April 11, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Chad Warren 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Retiree Activities Office will host the 33rd annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action and Purple Heart luncheon at Hoban Hall April 27. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and will honor past and present POW/MIA and Purple Heart recipients in the area, including five active-duty Purple Heart recipients assigned to Barksdale. Although the ceremony will be held for service members from all conflicts, many veterans will be from the World War II era. "The majority of the POWs and Purple Heart recipients are from World War II, and it's a dying generation," said retired Col. Steve dePyssler, RAO director. "Out of the 16 and a half million men that participated in World War II, there are less than two million alive." The event has grown over the years to one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the country, according to dePyssler, with the largest year hosting more than 800 guests. Only 24 guests attended the inaugural luncheon in 1979. It's important to honor these veterans while they are still around, added dePyssler. Barksdale actively honored World War I veterans as well, hosting the final WW I luncheon in the country in 1985, with a total of 15 attendees. The RAO encourages young active-duty members to attend, as well, to support and learn from their brothers- and sisters-in-arms. "The education of an individual never stops," said retired Lt. Col. John Storey, RAO deputy director. "Military heritage is always important to us. This is a perfect opportunity for the active-duty personnel to meet with these individuals who are part of our heritage." The luncheon is limited to the first 500 attendees to reserve a slot. To purchase tickets for the event or for more information, contact the RAO at 456-4480.