News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NLF News

Date: January 15, 2001

"Update Line The League has a 24-hour, 7 day a week update line. Please call 202-659-0133 to find out the latest detailed information regarding the POW/MIA issue or click here to see the text online. The last update was 1/8/01.

January 8 The Commander in Chief, US Pacific command, Admiral Dennis Blair, plans to visit Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia later this week. During his trip, he will reinforce the importance of serious efforts to account for missing Americans. In view of the military to military dialogue now increasing between the US and Vietnam, it is hoped that Admiral Blair will propose cooperation to permit US Navy vessels to conduct underwater recovery efforts along the coast of Vietnam where many US incidents occurred.

JAN/FEB Both Laos and Vietnam conducted unilateral investigations during the month of December, pursuing leads provided by the US, including efforts to locate witnesses for subsequent joint interview in both countries. On January 9th, joint field operations will resume in Laos, as they will in Vietnam on February 8th. Preliminary joint investigations in Cambodia were conducted in November in preparation for full-scale joint operations that begin January 10th and conclude February 6th that will several cases, but not the hoped-for trilateral operation with Laos.

Annual Meeting The League recently finalized the date and location for our 32nd Annual Meeting that will be held June 21-25th, 2001, at Crystal City's DoubleTree Hotel, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Family members and concerned supporters are urged to start planning now to attend this important first meeting of a new administration. We again anticipate DOD-sponsored, round-trip travel for this meeting for two family members per missing man.

Virginia Residents Effective July 1, a bill was passed to allow production of special license plates with the POW/MIA logo . Before production can begin, DMV must receive 350 PREPAID applications. Click here for more information.

Important Link http://www.cilhi.army.mil/ - The United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii. CILHI has a threefold mission:
1) Search for, recover, and identify remains of American military personnel, certain American civilian personnel, and certain allied personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts and contingencies.
2)Conduct humanitarian missions as directed by competent authority.
3)Provide technical assistance in these matters as requested by the appropriate geographic Commander-in-Chief (CINC).

Q: "Our state recently enacted legislation requiring the display of the POW-MIA flag at state and municipal buildings. Is there any official protocol as to where it should be displayed when on a pole along with the US and state flag."
A: "The flag, since it pertains to missing Americans from across the country, flies beneath the US flag and, if on the same pole with the state flag, beneath the US flag and above the state flag. Of course, it is preferable that there be more than one flag pole if three flags are to be flown, but it isn't always possible. If there are two or three separate flag poles, the POW/MIA flag just flies a bit lower than the US flag, as all other do."

Current Status There are 1,991 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
E-Mail The Official e-mail address for The National League of POW/MIA Families is info@pow-miafamilies.org "