National POW-MIA Recognition Day

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National POW-MIA Recognition Day
Until July 18, 1979, no commemoration was held to
honor Americas POW/MIAs, those returned and
those still missing and unaccounted for from our
nations wars. That first year, resolutions were
passed in the Congress and the national ceremony
was held at the National Cathedral in Washington,
D.C. The Missing Man formation was flown by the
1st Tactical Squadron, Langley AFB,
Virginia. National POW/MIA Recognition Day
legislation was introduced yearly until 1996 when
it was deemed by Congress that legislation
designating special commemorative days would no
long be considered by Congress. The President
now signs a proclamation each year. In the early
years, the date was routinely set in close
proximity to the National League of Families
annual meetings. In the mid-1980s, the American
Ex-POWs decided that they wished to see the date
established as April 9th, the date during World
War II when the largest number of Americans were
captured. Subsequently, in an effort to
accommodate all returned POWs and all Americans
still missing and unaccounted for from all wars,
the National League of Families proposed the
third Friday in September, a date not associated
with any particular war and not in conjunction
with any organizations national
convention. National POW/MIA Recognition Day
ceremonies are now held throughout the nation and
around the world on military installations, ships
at sea, state capitals, at schools, churches,
national veteran and civic organizations, police
and fire departments, fire stations, etc. The
Leagues POW/MIA flag is flown, and the focus is
to ensure that America remembers its
responsibility to stand behind those who serve
our nation and do everything possible to account
for those who do not return.
POW-MIA Flag In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the
wife of a U.S. military officer listed as missing
in action during the Vietnam War, developed the
idea for a national flag to remind every American
of the U.S. service members whose fates were
never accounted for during the war. The black and
white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of
barbed wire and an ominous watchtower was
designed by Newt Heisley, a former World War II
pilot. Some claim the silhouette is a profile of
Heisleys son, who contracted hepatitis while
training to go to Vietnam. The virus ravaged his
body, leaving his features hallow and emaciated.
They suggest that while staring at his sons
sunken features, Heisley saw the stark image of
American service members held captive under harsh
conditions. Using a pencil he sketched his sons
profile, creating the basis for a symbol that
would come to have a powerful impact on the
national conscience. By the end of the Vietnam
War, more than 2,500 service members were listed
by the Department of Defense as Prisoners of War
(POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). In 1979, as
families of the missing pressed for full
accountability, Congress and the President
proclaimed the first National POW-MIA Recognition
Day to acknowledge the families concerns and
symbolize the steadfast resolve of the American
people to never forget the men and women who gave
up their freedom protecting ours. Three years
later, in 1982, the POW-MIA flag became the only
flag other than the Stars and Stripes to fly over
the White House in Washington, D.C. On August 10,
1990, Congress pass U.S. Public Law 101-355,
designating the POW-MIA flag The symbol of our
Nations concern and commitment to resolving as
fully as possible the fates of Americans still
prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in
Southeast Asia.  
Forget Me Knot Wreath Laying Memorial
Service Saturday, September 18,
2010 12ooNoon Grafton Harbor Grafton , Illinois
The Forget Me Knot POW-MIA Recognition Program is
a joint effort of St. Louis Area VA Minority
Coordinators Grafton Boat Association Jefferson
Barracks National Cemetery St. Louis VA Medical
Center Tuskegee Airmen, Inc Missouri
Chapter Grafton Harbor The Big Kahuna Office of
Mayor Tom Thompson, Grafton, IL Munford Point
Marines Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans
Canteen Service Patriot Guard Riders Tuskegee
Airmen-Scott AirForce Base Chapter Buffalo
Soldiers Motorcycle Club Gerry New QEM Fire
Department District Grafton, IL AL Post 648 and
Post 162 Les Fleurs Da La Memoire - Normandy,
France

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Keynote Speaker Ret. Col. (Dr.) J. P.
Morgan Tuskegee Airmen, Inc Memorial Ringing of
The Bell Kimberly M. Cochren Blessing of the
Fleet Chaplain Hayden Goodwin Ret. U. S.
Army St. Louis VAMC Parade of Boats Grafton
Boat Harbor Wreath Laying
This part of the ceremony commemorates
those who gave their
lives, Prisoners of War, or those still listed as
Missing in Action. WWII Korean War Otis Jones,
U.S. Army Veteran POW MIA John Rain, U. S.
Army Veteran Veterans Past-Present-Future John
Tilthman, U. S. Marines Veteran Three Volley
Gun Salute American Legion Posts 648 162 Echo
Taps Keith Durham Tara Bryan Volunteers
Jefferson Barracks Unveiling of Memorial
Stone Kimberly Alvin Cochren Presentation of
Gifts Craig LaChance RimaAnn Nelson Presentatio
n of Presidential Family of William H. Holloman,
III Memorial Certificate Tuskegee Airmen Closing
Remarks Al Cochren Forget Me Knot
Chairman Jefferson Barracks National
Cemetery Retirement of Colors Munford Point
Marines Roosevelt High School MCJROTC Joint
Services Color Guard Benediction Chaplain
Hayden Goodwin
Simultaneous Wreath Laying
Ceremony Les Cochren Forget Me Knot
Co-Chairman Sacramento, California
POW-MIA RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Opening Statement Craig LaChance Introduction
of the Director Intern Master of
Ceremonies Jefferson Barracks National
Cemetery Attorney Ben Goetten Illinois
State Attorney Master of Ceremonies
Presentation of Colors Munford Point
Marines Roosevelt High School MCJROTC Joint
Services Color Guard Pledge of Allegiance Wolf
Cub Pack 721, Den-2 St. Louis, MO National
Anthem Danna Cory, Student POW/MIA Remembrance
Table Read by Ben Goetten Moment of Silence
Rev. Steve Carr Invocation Mount Herald M. B.
Church St. Louis, MO Welcome Joe
DeSherlia Grafton Boat Association Vocal
Tribute Caroline Gibson, Student Greetings from
the Mayor Mayor Tom Thompson Mayor City of
Grafton, IL Greetings from VA Medical Center
RimaAnn Nelson, Director St. Louis VA Medical
Center Acknowledgement of Ex-POWs Mayor Tom
Thompson RimaAnn Nelson Former POWs and
family members of MIA please stand Introduction
of Keynote Speaker Ret. Major Yolandea Wood