Cadets from SIUC’s Air Force and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps began a 24 hour vigil Wednesday to honor and remember American Prisoners Of War and those that became classified as Missing In Action.

The vigil was held to recognize P.O.W. and M.I.A. Awareness Day, a holiday enacted last year to recognize the sacrifices made by P.O.W.s and M.I.A.s for the U.S.

The event was sponsored by the Arnold Air Society in conjunction with the Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC and the Veterans Club, all SIUC groups.

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Cadet Jason Broadway of the Air Force ROTC, a freshman in political science who helped plan the vigil, said recognition of POWs and MIAs, though well deserved, might wither without events like the vigil.

Sadly enough I think that’s true, he said. The sacrifices those people made are too great to be overlooked. They couldn’t give anymore than they did.

Until 4 p.m. today, two ROTC cadets will stand in a ceremonial parade rest position for 15-minute intervals in front of the Old Main flagpole near the Quigley circle. In the position, cadets stand motionless. Even their eyes are supposed to stay still.

Air Force ROTC Cadet Marc Ayala, a junior in mechanical engineering from Carbondale and commander of the Arnold Flight Society, said the holiday was actually last Friday, but the vigil could not be started until Wednesday for logistical reasons.

Ayala, who also helped organize the event, said the vigil gives cadets a chance to reflect on their service.

It’s a long 15 minutes up there. You have a lot to think about, he said. It really sinks in about why you’re a cadet and why you get up at six in the morning.

Ayala said about 25 people from each ROTC group volunteered to participate in the vigil.

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He said two groups of cadets will alternate the 15-minute shifts for one or two hours before another group takes over for them.

David Holden, an Army ROTC cadet and senior in health care management from O’Fallon, said the reason for the short shifts is fatigue.

After 15 minutes, your legs are ready for a walk, he said.

A sign near the flagpole giving information about the event asks people passing by not to talk to the cadets.

They will not talk back, the sign reads.

Ayala said the vigil was also set up to make students aware of the sacrifices made by P.O.W.s and M.I.As. He said many SIUC students are extremely unaware of the plight of these people.

The Veterans Club will have a short ceremony today at 4:30 p.m. to end the vigil.