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History of the POW/MIA Flag |
On March 9, 1989, an official
League flag, which flew over the White House on 1988 National POW/MIA
Recognition Day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a result
of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress. In a
demonstration of bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of
both Houses hosted the installation ceremony.
The League’s POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the
U.S. Capitol Rotunda where it will stand as a powerful symbol of
national commitment to America’s POW/MIAs until the fullest
possible accounting has been achieved for U.S. personnel still missing
and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355,
which recognized the League’s POW/MIA flag and designated it "as
the symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to resolving as
fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and
unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for
their families and the Nation".
The importance of the League’s POW/MIA flag lies in its continued
visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America’s
POW/MIAs. Other than "Old Glory", the League’s POW/MIA flag is
the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed
in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982.
With passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act
during the first term of the 105th Congress, the League’s POW/MIA
flag will fly each year on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day,
Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day on
the grounds or in the public lobbies of major military installations as
designated by the Secretary of the Defense, all Federal national
cemeteries, the national Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Postal
Service post offices and at the official offices of the Secretaries of
State, Defense and Veteran’s Affairs, and Director of the
Selective Service System.
U.S. Army Headquarters Program
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by Bravenet.com
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