The National League of Families POW/MIA flag, often referred to as the POW/MIA flag, was adopted in 1972 and consists of the official emblem of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia in white on a black background. In 2019 the National POW/MIA Flag Act was signed into law, requiring the POW/MIA flag to be flown on certain federal properties, including the U.S. Capitol Building, on all days the U.S. flag is flown.[1]
National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
A silhouette of a prisoner of war (POW) before a guard tower and barbed wire in white on a black field. "POW/MIA" appears above the silhouette and the words "You Are Not Forgotten" appear below in white on the black field. "MIA" stands for "missing in action."
In 1971, during the Vietnam War, Mary Hoff, member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and wife of missing in action (MIA) Lt. Commander Michael Hoff U.S.N., proposed the creation of a symbol for American prisoners of war (POW) and those who are MIA. The POW/MIA flag was created for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and is officially recognized by the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, "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." National League of Families national coordinator Evelyn Grubb, wife of a POW, oversaw its development and also campaigned to gain its widespread acceptance and use by the U.S. federal government, local governments, and civilian organizations across the United States.[2][3]
The United States and POW/MIA flags flying atop the White House.
The POW/MIA flag was flown over the White House for the first time in September 1982.[4] On March 9, 1989, a league flag that had flown over the White House on the 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed by the 100th Congress. The leadership of both houses of Congress hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support. On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA flag and designating it "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 for in 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.
In October 2017, state government buildings in Maryland began flying the POW/MIA flag outside.[5] On November 7, 2019, the National POW/MIA Flag Act was signed into law, requiring the POW/MIA flag to be flown on certain federal properties, including the U.S. Capitol Building, on all days the U.S. flag is flown. Previously, the flag was only flown on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day.[6]
The POW/MIA flag consists of a silhouette of a POW before a guard tower and barbed wire in white on a black field. "POW/MIA" appears above the silhouette and the words "YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN" appear below in white on the black field. The original design for the flag was created by Newt Heisley. In 1971, a New Jersey-based agency he worked for assigned him to create a flag for their client Annin & Company, the largest flag manufacturer in the United States, which had been given the task to create the flag by Mary Hoff, the wife of Lt. Commander Michael Hoff U.S.N., a service member missing in action, and a member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. The flag is ambiguous as it implies that personnel listed as MIA may in fact be held captive. The official, bipartisan, U.S. federal government position is that there is "no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia".[7] The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency provides centralized management of prisoner of war and missing personnel affairs within the U.S. Department of Defense and is responsible for investigating the status of POW/MIA issues. As October 2020, 1,585 Americans remained unaccounted for, of which 1,007 were classified as further pursuit, 488 as no further pursuit and 90 as deferred.[8]
ProtocolEdit
When displayed from a single flagpole, the POW/MIA flag should fly directly below, and be no larger than, the U.S. flag. For federal agencies under a chain of command the U.S. Flag Code has a complete order of precedence that mirrors Army Regulations 840-10, paragraph 2-2c. If on separate poles, the U.S. flag should always be placed to the right of other flags (the viewer's left; the flag's own right). On the six national observances for which Congress has ordered display of the flag, it is generally flown immediately below or adjacent to the U.S. flag as second in order of precedence. In the U.S. Armed Forces; the dining halls, mess halls, and chow halls display a single table and chair in a corner draped with the flag as a symbol for the missing, thus reserving a chair in hopes of their return. POW/MIA Flag is also present at Veterans' organizations local chapters, state and national conventions.
^Jose, Carol and Grubb, Evelyn; You Are Not Forgotten: A Family's Quest for Truth and the Founding of the National League of Families; Vandamere Press (New York); 2008. ISBN0-918339-71-5.
^"Evelyn Fowler Grubb, 74, Leader Of a Group Supporting P.O.W.'s". The New York Times. January 4, 2006.
national, league, families, flag, often, referred, flag, adopted, 1972, consists, official, emblem, national, league, families, american, prisoners, missing, southeast, asia, white, black, background, 2019, national, flag, signed, into, requiring, flag, flown,. The National League of Families POW MIA flag often referred to as the POW MIA flag was adopted in 1972 and consists of the official emblem of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia in white on a black background In 2019 the National POW MIA Flag Act was signed into law requiring the POW MIA flag to be flown on certain federal properties including the U S Capitol Building on all days the U S flag is flown 1 National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast AsiaNational League of Families POW MIA flagUseOtherProportion9 14AdoptedJanuary 1972DesignA silhouette of a prisoner of war POW before a guard tower and barbed wire in white on a black field POW MIA appears above the silhouette and the words You Are Not Forgotten appear below in white on the black field MIA stands for missing in action Designed byNewt Heisley Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Protocol 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory EditIn 1971 during the Vietnam War Mary Hoff member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and wife of missing in action MIA Lt Commander Michael Hoff U S N proposed the creation of a symbol for American prisoners of war POW and those who are MIA The POW MIA flag was created for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and is officially recognized by the U S Congress in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW MIA issue 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 National League of Families national coordinator Evelyn Grubb wife of a POW oversaw its development and also campaigned to gain its widespread acceptance and use by the U S federal government local governments and civilian organizations across the United States 2 3 The United States and POW MIA flags flying atop the White House The POW MIA flag was flown over the White House for the first time in September 1982 4 On March 9 1989 a league flag that had flown over the White House on the 1988 National POW MIA Recognition Day was installed in the U S Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed by the 100th Congress The leadership of both houses of Congress hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support On August 10 1990 the 101st Congress passed U S Public Law 101 355 recognizing the National League of Families POW MIA flag and designating it 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 for in 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 In October 2017 state government buildings in Maryland began flying the POW MIA flag outside 5 On November 7 2019 the National POW MIA Flag Act was signed into law requiring the POW MIA flag to be flown on certain federal properties including the U S Capitol Building on all days the U S flag is flown Previously the flag was only flown on Armed Forces Day Memorial Day Flag Day Independence Day National POW MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day 6 Design Edit Seal of the U S Defense POW MIA Accounting AgencyThe POW MIA flag consists of a silhouette of a POW before a guard tower and barbed wire in white on a black field POW MIA appears above the silhouette and the words YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN appear below in white on the black field The original design for the flag was created by Newt Heisley In 1971 a New Jersey based agency he worked for assigned him to create a flag for their client Annin amp Company the largest flag manufacturer in the United States which had been given the task to create the flag by Mary Hoff the wife of Lt Commander Michael Hoff U S N a service member missing in action and a member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia The flag is ambiguous as it implies that personnel listed as MIA may in fact be held captive The official bipartisan U S federal government position is that there is no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia 7 The U S Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency provides centralized management of prisoner of war and missing personnel affairs within the U S Department of Defense and is responsible for investigating the status of POW MIA issues As October 2020 1 585 Americans remained unaccounted for of which 1 007 were classified as further pursuit 488 as no further pursuit and 90 as deferred 8 Protocol EditWhen displayed from a single flagpole the POW MIA flag should fly directly below and be no larger than the U S flag For federal agencies under a chain of command the U S Flag Code has a complete order of precedence that mirrors Army Regulations 840 10 paragraph 2 2c If on separate poles the U S flag should always be placed to the right of other flags the viewer s left the flag s own right On the six national observances for which Congress has ordered display of the flag it is generally flown immediately below or adjacent to the U S flag as second in order of precedence In the U S Armed Forces the dining halls mess halls and chow halls display a single table and chair in a corner draped with the flag as a symbol for the missing thus reserving a chair in hopes of their return POW MIA Flag is also present at Veterans organizations local chapters state and national conventions The National POW MIA Flag Act ensure that the POW MIA Flag is displayed whenever the U S flag is displayed at certain locations Those locations include the U S Capitol the White House the World War II Memorial the Korean War Veterans Memorial the Vietnam Veterans Memorial every national cemetery the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State Defense and Veterans Affairs the office of the Director of the Selective Service System each major military installation as designated by the Secretary of Defense each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center clinics and Veterans Benefits Administration offices and each United States Postal Service post office 9 See also EditList of black flags List of flags of the United StatesReferences Edit https www congress gov 116 plaws publ67 PLAW 116publ67 pdf Jose Carol and Grubb Evelyn You Are Not Forgotten A Family s Quest for Truth and the Founding of the National League of Families Vandamere Press New York 2008 ISBN 0 918339 71 5 Evelyn Fowler Grubb 74 Leader Of a Group Supporting P O W s The New York Times January 4 2006 The POW MIA Flag PDF Marlyand Senate Bill 579 PDF Archived from the original on September 29 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Warren Elizabeth November 7 2019 S 693 116th Congress 2019 2020 National POW MIA Flag Act www congress gov Retrieved January 2 2020 Executive Summary Report of the Select Committee on POW MIA Affairs U S Senate January 13 1993 Retrieved January 3 2008 Vietnam era Statistical Report PDF Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency October 14 2020 Retrieved December 10 2020 Biden returns prisoner of war flag to perch atop White House AP NEWS April 9 2021 Retrieved April 10 2021 Further reading Edit 1 Symbol of a Nation s Concern The POW MIA flag and Newton Heisley The VVA Veteran July August 2009 The Story of the POW MIA flag in Vietnam magazine June 2012External links Edit Media related to National League of Families POW MIA Flag at Wikimedia Commons POW MIA U S at Flags of the WorldPortals Asia Heraldry Society United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National League of Families POW MIA flag amp oldid 1170769813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
