"Letters - POW/MIA regonition day means they are never forgotten"
Dear Editor, I still can't believe in this day and age that many young and old Americans don't know what POW/MIA stands for (prisoner of war/missing in action), or what the POW/MIA flag represents. With POW/MIA Recognition coming Friday, Sept. 16, it's my hope that people will start to take notice and reflect on its meaning. For those of your readers who don't know what it's about, please allow me to share with them some information.
It began in 1971 when Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a missing soldier from the Vietnam War, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. The idea was brought to a company who designed flags and the black and white silhouette of a prisoner encased in barbed wire with a looming guard tower was born. On Aug. 1, 1990, the 101st Congress passed Public Law 101-355, recognizing the POW/MIA flag "... as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation."
The flag, of course, has no boundaries. It represents prisoners of war and missing in action service personnel from all wars. It represents Sgt. Matt Maupin, declared missing after an April 9, 2004, convoy attack near Baghdad and Scott Speicher, Navy pilot shot down on Jan. 17, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. Sadly, many people don't even know that we've had POWs from the present war.
We may not all agree on whether the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is right or wrong, but we should all take a moment on Sept. 16 to say a prayer for Sgt. Maupin and Lt. Cdr. Scott Speicher and for thousands of others who remain unaccounted for from all past wars. I hope that this letter will touch a few hearts and the next time they see a POW/MIA flag or symbol they will remember its meaning, say a prayer for them and their families. We should be grateful to them for their extraordinary sacrifices and bravery.
May God bless America.
Glenn T. Nichols, MCPO, USN (Ret)
President, Rolling Thunder¬ Inc., GA Chapter 3
Fayetteville
© 2005 The Tribune-Georgian