More than 100 runners recently participated in the third annual running of the POW/MIA Fun Run at Concourse West Fitness Center at Naval Base Kitsap -Bremerton.

Before the race, runners had the opportunity to peruse health, fitness and liberty program kiosks inside the fitness center where people from the respective programs stood by to answer any questions. First Command, a POW/MIA Fun Run sponsor, also stood by to answer any financial health questions.

At 11:30 a.m., the participants lined up behind five Harley Davidson motorcycles, whose riders from Combat Veterans International (CVI), served as safety escorts for the run.

CVI also served as a reminder that even during a ‘normal’ day on a fun run, there are military members who are still missing and unaccounted for.

According to Brad Gehring, CVI member and spokesman, CVI, Americans can never do too much to get missing military personnel back to the country.

“We can’t do enough.  There should be no efforts left unspent in returning those who’ve gone forth to protect our nation back to the shores of this great country,” said Gehring.  “We have an obligation to our servicemen that deploy to bring them back and bring them back safely.  Nobody gets left behind.”

Naval Base Kitsap Command Master Chief (AW/SW) James Rickel agreed with the idea of not forgetting the POW and MIA issue.

“I think it is a day we always have to remember, that the POW/MIA are lost but not forgotten,” he said.  “It is a nice tribute to all the Sailors, Airman, Soldiers and Marines who were POWs and never to forget the MIA’s.”

With the rumble of five motorcycle engines propelling the safety escorts forward, the racers were off despite the incoming rain.

The course, a two-mile loop, tracked itself around most portions of NBK-Bremerton.  The runners sorted themselves out and the first runner crossed the finish line at just over 11 minutes.

“The course was pretty easy, mostly flat,” said Lt. Steve Stievres, USS Nevada (Gold).  “I am better at hills and it was nice to have the hill at the end, and that I would be able to hold off anybody if I was in the lead.”

According to Steve Watland, fitness director, Concourse West Fitness Center, the run was designed to keep people active.

“As long as we can get people out and participating, keep them healthy and happy and able to provide services, it is a success for us,” he said.  “We started it [POW/MIA Fun Run] three years ago.  It was a great opportunity to increase awareness for our POWs and MIAs, especially with the war in Iraq.  We’ve had a few [POW/MIAs] in the past year.  We’d just like to give back the best we can, have some fun, appreciate, remember and get everybody out to participate.”