News-Info-Alerts

Re: POW-MIA Flag Flies

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: March 24, 2002

"MIA-POW flags may fly at county buildings

By DAVE YONKMAN - Staff writer
An Ottawa County committee has recommended flying flags at county buildings to honor prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action.

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Planning and Policy Committee on Wednesday recommended to the full board that the flags fly below the flag of the United States at 10 county buildings.

Rolling Thunder, a veterans advocacy group that meets in Muskegon, provides the first 3-foot-by-5-foot or 4-foot-by-6-foot flags for free. They cost about $25 and $30, respectively. Group members said that they generally last four to six months.

They say that it's a national attempt to raise awareness of MIAs and U.S. soldiers who might still be in Vietnam as prisoners of war. The group says that there are 1,986 Americans still unaccounted for in Vietnam.

The board voted before the arrival of Georgetown Township Commissioner Dale Mohr, who planned to vote against the proposal. In a prepared statement, he wrote that he doesn't object to the MIA-POW flag flying, just not on the same staff as the U.S. flag.

He said that while flying flags below the U.S. flag on the same staff is allowed, it isn't proper etiquette.

"I prefer to see the American flag flying unfurled, unfettered and unaccompanied," he wrote.

He said that he would support the flag flying on the same staff on special occasions.

Rolling Thunder members say that, if the plan is approved, they plan to tour the county on Saturday, April 20, and raise the flags in 12 locations, starting at the county's Fillmore Street complex and ending in downtown Grand Haven. The other two locations are at the Elks Lodge and American Legion Club in Grand Haven.

"We're going to try and make this a real big deal," Rolling Thunder board member Dave Johnson said.

Johnson said that the organization next plans to ask officials with Muskegon and Allegan counties to fly the flag at their county buildings.

"We're making our way around," Rolling Thunder member Michelle Johnson said.

The flags already fly at several West Michigan locations, including Centennial Park in Holland."