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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Patriot Guard Riders and the POW-MIA flag


Date: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 4:59 AM
Subject: PGR Statewide - AZ - HOTH - POW/MIA Flag Signed in to Law, Phoenix, AZ - 4 Aug 10
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HOTH POW/MIA Flag signed in to Law, August 4th, Phoenix, Az
Patriot Guard Riders have been asked by Rep Jerry Weirs to organize anescort of all organizations to escort the new flags to be flown at theCapitol and witness as the law is signed by Gov Jan Brewer. The ceremony will be at 0800 SHARP. A brief ceremony will follow with introductions of Former POWs living in Az and Special guests. Az has passed in to law that the MIA/POW flag will be flown at State andCounty buildings in honor of those who remain MIA and POWs unaccounted for
that we will NEVER forget!.

This law has been sought for some time. As posted by the Department of Veterans Affairs:In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer listed asmissing in action during the Vietnam War, developed the idea for a national
flag to remind every American of the U.S. servicemembers whose fates werenever accounted for during the war.The black and white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of barbed wire andan ominous watchtower was designed by Newt Heisley, a former World War II pilot.

Some claim the silhouette is a profile of Heisley's son, who contracted hepatitis while training to go to Vietnam. The virus ravaged hisbody, leaving his features hallow and emaciated. They suggest that while staring at his son's sunken features, Heisley saw the stark image ofAmerican servicemembers held captive under harsh conditions. Using a pencil,he sketched his son's 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 servicemembers were listed bythe Department of Defense as Prisoner 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 RecognitionDay to acknowledge the families' concerns and symbolize the steadfastresolve 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 flagbecame the only flag other than the Stars and Stripes to fly over the WhiteHouse in Washington, D.C.

On August 10, 1990, Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, designating the POW/MIA flag: "The symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully aspossible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted forin Southeast Asia." Displaying the POW/MIA Flag Congress designated the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and ordered prominent display of the POW/MIA flag on thisday and several other national observances, including Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The 1998 Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 105-85) mandates that on these national observances,the POW/MIA flag is to be flown over the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Korean and Vietnam Veterans War Memorials, the offices of the Secretaries ofState, Defense and Veterans Affairs, offices of the Director of theSelective Service System, every major military installation (as directed by the Secretary of Defense), every post office and all Department of VeteransAffairs (VA) medical centers and national cemeteries.

The act also directs VA medical centers to fly the POW/MIA flag on any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed.When displayed from a single flag pole, the POW/MIA flag should fly directlybelow, and be no larger than, the United States flag. If on separate poles,the U.S. flag should always be placed to the right of other flags. On the six national observances for which Congress has ordered display of the POW/MIA flag, it is generally flown immediately below or adjacent to the UnitedStates flag as second in order of precedence."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 forin 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 U.S. wars.


War of the Revolution: POW - 18,152 MIA - 1,426
War of 1812: POW - 20,000 MIA - 695
Mexican War: POW - 46 MIA - 238
Indian Wars (US): POW - 339 MIA - 11
Indian Wars (Native American): POW - 2,958 MIA - 40
Civil War - Union:POW/MIA - 194,743 .
Civil War - Confederacy: POW/MIA - 214,865 .
Spanish-American War: POW - 8 MIA - 72
World War I: POW/MIA - 7,470 .
World War II: POW - 124,079 MIA - 30,314
Cold War Era: POW - Classified MIA - 343
Korean War: POW - 7,140 MIA - 8,025
Vietnam War: POW - 766 MIA - 1,719
U.S.S. Pueblo: POW - 83
Grenada: . MIA - 4
U.S.S. Stark: . MIA - 1
Persian Gulf War: POWs - 29 MIAs - 21
Somalia: POW - 6 MIA - 2
Yugoslavia: POWs - 3


STAGING: Wednesday August 4th 06151204 Nth 91st Ave (empty strip mall)Tolleson, AzKSU NLT 0715 enroute to the Capitol bldg. Ride Captain: Louann Thomas tohidu@cox.net
We will need all the Road Guards we can get!We will need a Flag Dude for initial staging and also one waiting at theCapitol with flags ready to be grabbed by the those arriving.

ALL Organizations, Bikes, and Cages!!! Veterans organizations are coming
from California (about 300 anticipated)!! Let's make the Arizona contingent double that or more! This is a great moment to see those men and women Missing In Action andthose Prisoner Of War honored with the promise "We will not forget".
Greatest Respects,
Louann Thomas
Patriot Guard Ridertohidu@cox.net

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