In 1971, Mrs.Mary Hoff, an MIA wife
and member of the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast
Asia, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs.
Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida TIMES-UNION, Mrs. Hoff
contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice-President of Annin & Company which had
made a banner for the newest member of the United Nations, the People's Republic
of China, as a part of their policy to provide flags to all UN member nations.
Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and he,
along with Annin's advertising agency, designed a flag to represent our missing
men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution.
The flag is black, bearing in the center, in black and white, the emblem
of the League. The emblem is a white disk bearing in black silhouette the
bust of a man, watch tower with a guard holding a rifle, and a strand of
barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW and MIA framing a white
5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white
motto YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
Concerned groups and individuals have altered the original POW/MIA Flag many
times; the colors have been switched from black with white - to red, white
and blue, -to white with black; the POW/MIA has at times been revised to
MIA/POW. Such changes, however, are insignificant. The importance lies in
the continued visibility of the symbol, a constant reminder of the plight
of America's POW/MIA'S.
On March 9,1989, a POW/MIA Flag, which flew over the White House on the 1988
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the United States Capitol
Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th
session of Congress. The leadership of both Houses hosted the installation
ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support. This POW/MIA
Flag, the only flag displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda, stands
as a powerful symbol of our national commitment to our POW/MIAs until the
fullest possible accounting for Americans still missing in Southeast Asia
has been achieved.
On August 10,1990, the 101st Congress passes U.S. Public Law 101-355, which
recognized the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designated it
'as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully
as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted
for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and
the Nation. Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from
all American Wars.
The importance of the National Legue of Families POW/MIA Flag lies in its
continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America's POW/MIAs.
Other than 'Old Glory', the POW/MIA Flag is the only flag ever to fly over
the White House, having been displayed in the place of honor on National
POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982.
With the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during
the first term of the 105th Congress,the..... POW/MIA Flag will fly
each year on:
Armed Forces Day - (Third Saturday in
May)
Memorial Day - (Last Monday in May)
Flag Day - June 14
Independence Day - July 4
National POW/MIA Recognition Day - September 17
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The POW/MIA Flag will be flown on the
grounds or the public lobbies of major military installations as designated
by the Secretary of Defense, all Federal National Cemeteries, the National
Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the
White House, the United States Post Offices and at official offices of the
Secretaries of State, Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and Director of the
Selective Service System.
Source: 'Prairie
Ridge' - Copyright 1997-1998 - All Rights Reserved |
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