What is the history behind this flag ? Thanks.

Larry

:ae: Proud of the way you're movin' brother!

The history of the POW/MIA Flag
 

In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, An MIA wife,nd member of the National league of families recognised the need for a symbol of our POW/MIA's.

Promped by an article in the Jacksonville Florida times union Mrs Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President of Annin& company which made the banner for the newest member of the United nations, The Peoples republic of china, as a part of thir policy to provide flags to all United nations member states.

Mrs. hoff found Mr. Rivkees to be very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue. he along with Annin's advertising agency, designed a flag to represent our missing men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution.

On March 9th 1989, an official flag whichflew over the White House in 1988 on National POW/MIA reconition day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhemingly during the 106th congress. In a demonstration of bi-partison Congressional support, the leadership of both houses hosted the installation ceremony.

The league's POW/MIA flag is the only flag 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 achieveed fo the U.S. military 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 resolve as fully as possible the fates of Americans still held prisoner or missing in Southeast Asia - thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the nation.

The importance of the League's POW-MIA flag lies in it's continued visibility - a constant reminder of the plight of America's POW-MIAs.

With the 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 be flown each year on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW-MIA Recognition Day, and Veteran's Day on the grounds or in the public lobbies of major military installations as designated by the Secretary of Defense, all Federal national cemeteries, the National Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the U.S. Postal Service Offices, and at the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the offices of the Director of the Selective Service System.

The new POW/MIA flag is a replacement of the 20'X30' POW/MIA flag that is now protected in a climate controled vault in the Massachusetts commonwealth Musuem in Boston,...

..."Welcome Home',...

...

Secured,...
 

...I have secured a "spot" right across from the reviewing stand right on 4th street at the Franklin Plaza for the National POW/MIA flag,...

...right across from the "Time Warner "film crew will be set up,...

...the 11th, and 12th is approaching fast,...

...

Your doing good , Curtis. Thank You. Don't forget the pic's ! :xx:

Problem,...
 

...hello Texas WE HAVE A PROBLEM,...

...SEEMS I GOT A CALL TODAY, RATHER TONIGHT,...

...seems that there is a problem about "WHERE" the placement of the National POW/ MIA flag is being postioned,...

...As the "CITY OF TROY" couldn't make room around the parking area already reserved for the the prominents at "riverfront park" in Troy by the "Uncle Sam monument" because the crane will take up all of 3, yes three parking spots, plus out riggers, they basicly told me to "FIND" my own place to put it, I DID, which is by thee grace of the "Franklin Plaza" which the owners of this private ownership gladly said yes, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IT MIGHT BE IN THE BACKDROP OF THE FILMING CREW FROM """TIME WARNER""" WHO IS THE LOCAL CABLE CHANNEL UP HERE AS THEY FILM THE PARADE, becouse where they are filming is next to the reviewing stand, and """"""""""""""IT""""""""""""" might be in the whole way unless I """""Jack"""""" """""IT""""" up high so it won't be seen in the backround,....

...when the """private""" owner's of Franklin Plaza today said they would be glad to have it there as they are """"""""""Very patriotic":""""", I was in 7th heaven thinking that it would be the highlight of this years parade, however tonight the call I recieved stated that """"the """"parade committee"" has to/ or the final say on all issues, blah, blah, blah,...



...

Curtis take a swig of tabbasco sauce before getting in the mayors face. he won't mess with you once you breathe on him.

What a bunch of crap. What do they think Flag Day is all about , anyway?

Waiting,...
 

....I'm going to wait until I hear from the "comittee" before I vent,...

...It's not the "work" that I have put into this that ticks me off, it's the way they presented it back to me,"that the National POW /MIA flag would be in the backdrop of the filming of the parade constantly throughout the filming",...

...I'll post up as it ""UNFOLDS",......... yes pun intended,...

...Chris, It's not the Mayor's fault, His office has been with me all the way trying to help out, It's the "higher ups" from the Parade planning, and comittee chairman as of yesterday,...

...I know I pulled a rabbit out of my hat getting this done as I didn't know how to do it, so flying by the seat of my pants, I did it as per the aquiring, and donations for equiptment, etc, but yea, I didn't go by the usual format, (what soldier does :D ) I just thought it would be a shot in the arm for all the Veterans, and the City,...

...To Be Continued,...

...

FRONT PAGE OF THE TROY RECORD
 

POW/MIA flag to honor missing vets at parade
By: Robert Cristo, The Record06/04/2005



TROY - A five-story flag honoring U.S. prisoners of war and servicemen missing in action, will be on display at the culmination point of next week's Flag Day Parade.




The National Prisoner of War, Missing in Action flag is expected to hang just across from the parade viewing stand at Franklin Plaza on Fourth Street, according to Troy resident William Giles, who is junior vice commander of the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Jr. chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
Giles, an Air Force veteran, is the man behind bringing the 60-foot by 30-foot flying tribute to veterans past, present and future.
As someone with many ties to veterans of the Armed Forces, Giles said he felt compelled to bring attention to the thousands of military men and women who shed their blood overseas, some never returning home to enjoy the freedoms they helped protect.
Today, there is one American still missing from Operation Desert Storm, and more than 1,800 from the Vietnam War, as well as more than 8,100 from the Korean War and 78,000 from World War II.
"Being that we have the largest Flag Day parade in the nation and that this is the home of Uncle Sam, I thought it would be fitting to bring this flag and pay tribute to all those missing soldiers," said Giles, a manager at Fuccillo Chevrolet in East Greenbush.
"It also brings this issue to the forefront of people's minds again, because we can't ever forget them (POW/MIA) or leave them behind," he added.
The flag was first created in 1971 when the wife of a man missing in action recognized the need for a symbol of soldiers whose status was never determined.
The flag is black with the silhouette of a man in the foreground and a watchtower with guard holding a rifle, a strand of barbed wire and the words, "You are Not Forgotten," emblazoned in white across the bottom.
The flag is flown on the grounds or in the public lobbies of major military installations, all federal National Cemeteries, war memorials, as well as, public events like Troy's Flag Day Parade.
Giles says the 100-pound flag is flown at events all across the country at a cost of only the shipping of about $120, which Fuccillo Chevrolet paid for. Other area businesses chipped in to provide help in properly flying the flag.
"It's one of those things (the flag) that's owned by no one and everyone at the same time," said Giles. "The flag is a tribute to everyone who has ever served to protect our way of life and didn't make it back home."
Due to the flag's size and strict rules on how it is to be displayed, Giles received some help from Saxton Signs, in Castleton, which donated the crane necessary to properly fly the flag.
The owners of Franklin Plaza also donated the space needed to display the flag.
However, with the big event less than 10 days away, the president of the Flag Parade Committee, Bill Rezey, said Thursday he hadn't received much contact from Giles about the POW/MIA flag and was wasn't sure if it would show up.
But the flag organization's Director Tim Rowe said not to worry because the flag is scheduled to be shipped to Troy via United Parcel Service by this Wednesday.
He also says that judging from past experience, the flag's scale and message should have a profound effect on those who attend this year's parade.
"When you see the flag 70 feet up in the air, it has a great impact in people," said Rowe, over the phone from Sound Bend, Ind. "I think it really grabs people's attention and makes them think."
Giles is looking for volunteers to help him set up and take down the flag. Anyone interested in assisting can call Giles at his job at 477-7941.



?The Record 2005