POW/MIA Flag
May 21, 2005 13:38:33 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on May 21, 2005 13:38:33 GMT -6
POW/MIA FLAG
In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer listed as missing-in-action during the Vietnam War, developed the idea for a national flag to remind every American of the servicemembers whose fates were never accounted for during the war.
The black and white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of barbed wire and an ominous watchtower was designed by Newt Heisley, a former World War II pilot. Some claim the silhouette is a profile of Heisley's son, who contracted hepatitis while training to go to Vietnam. The virus ravaged his body, leaving his features hallow and emaciated. They suggest that while staring at his son's sunken features, Heisley saw the stark image of American servicemembers held captive under harsh conditions. Using a pencil, he sketched his son's profile, creating the basis for a symbol that would come to have a powerful impact on the national conscience.
By the end of the Vietnam War, more than 2,500 servicemembers were listed by the Department of Defense as Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). In 1979, as families of the missing pressed for full accountability, Congress and the president proclaimed the first National POW/MIA Recognition Day to acknowledge the families' concerns and symbolize the steadfast resolve of the American people to never forget the men and women who gave up their freedom protecting ours. Three years later in 1982, the POW/MIA flag became the only flag other than the Stars and Stripes to fly over the White House in Washington, DC.
On August 10, 1990, Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, designating 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 and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.
DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG
Despite the erroneous information displayed on some websites, the POW/MIA flag is not considered to be a "National Flag". Except on the specific days listed below, the POW/MIA flag is considered to be an organizational flag. Organizational flags are the last group of flags in the precedence list.
Congress designated the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and ordered prominent display of the POW/MIA flag on ...
If flying the flag from one flag pole, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the National Colors and above any state flag. If flying National, POW/MIA and State flags from two poles, the POW/MIA flag should be flown from the same pole as the U.S. flag, and beneath the U.S. flag, with the state flag flying from the pole to the left. If flying flags from three poles, the U.S. flag occupies the place of prominence (the right), with the POW/MIA flag immediately to the left of the U.S. flag, and the state flag to the left of the POW/MIA flag.
Active-duty military color guards do not carry a POW/MIA flag because it is an organizational flag. Other color guards that do carry the POW/MIA flag should position it among organizational flags, i.e. last in the order of precedence.
On the six national observances for which Congress has ordered display of the POW/ MIA flag, and only on those six observances, it is generally flown immediately below or adjacent to the United States flag (to the left of the United States flag or to the viewer's right of the United States flag) as second in order of precedence.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 1998 mandates that on the six national observances listed, the POW/MIA flag is to be flown over the following ...
In addition, the act directs VA Medical Centers to fly the POW/MIA flag on any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed.
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This information is copied from Page 34 and Page 35 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual
In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, the wife of a U.S. military officer listed as missing-in-action during the Vietnam War, developed the idea for a national flag to remind every American of the servicemembers whose fates were never accounted for during the war.
The black and white image of a gaunt silhouette, a strand of barbed wire and an ominous watchtower was designed by Newt Heisley, a former World War II pilot. Some claim the silhouette is a profile of Heisley's son, who contracted hepatitis while training to go to Vietnam. The virus ravaged his body, leaving his features hallow and emaciated. They suggest that while staring at his son's sunken features, Heisley saw the stark image of American servicemembers held captive under harsh conditions. Using a pencil, he sketched his son's profile, creating the basis for a symbol that would come to have a powerful impact on the national conscience.
By the end of the Vietnam War, more than 2,500 servicemembers were listed by the Department of Defense as Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). In 1979, as families of the missing pressed for full accountability, Congress and the president proclaimed the first National POW/MIA Recognition Day to acknowledge the families' concerns and symbolize the steadfast resolve of the American people to never forget the men and women who gave up their freedom protecting ours. Three years later in 1982, the POW/MIA flag became the only flag other than the Stars and Stripes to fly over the White House in Washington, DC.
On August 10, 1990, Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, designating 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 and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.
DISPLAYING THE POW/MIA FLAG
Despite the erroneous information displayed on some websites, the POW/MIA flag is not considered to be a "National Flag". Except on the specific days listed below, the POW/MIA flag is considered to be an organizational flag. Organizational flags are the last group of flags in the precedence list.
Congress designated the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and ordered prominent display of the POW/MIA flag on ...
If flying the flag from one flag pole, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the National Colors and above any state flag. If flying National, POW/MIA and State flags from two poles, the POW/MIA flag should be flown from the same pole as the U.S. flag, and beneath the U.S. flag, with the state flag flying from the pole to the left. If flying flags from three poles, the U.S. flag occupies the place of prominence (the right), with the POW/MIA flag immediately to the left of the U.S. flag, and the state flag to the left of the POW/MIA flag.
Active-duty military color guards do not carry a POW/MIA flag because it is an organizational flag. Other color guards that do carry the POW/MIA flag should position it among organizational flags, i.e. last in the order of precedence.
On the six national observances for which Congress has ordered display of the POW/ MIA flag, and only on those six observances, it is generally flown immediately below or adjacent to the United States flag (to the left of the United States flag or to the viewer's right of the United States flag) as second in order of precedence.
The National Defense Authorization Act of 1998 mandates that on the six national observances listed, the POW/MIA flag is to be flown over the following ...
In addition, the act directs VA Medical Centers to fly the POW/MIA flag on any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information is copied from Page 34 and Page 35 of the United States Flag Manual, a publication distributed by the Military Salute Project. Click the following link to view or download the complete manual ...
militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/737/united-states-flag-manual