| Until July 18th, 1979,
no commemoration was held to honor America's POW/MIAs, those returned and
those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars. That first
year, resolutions were passed in the Congress and the national ceremony was
held at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Missing Man formation
was flown by the 1st Tactical Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia. The Veterans
Administration published a poster including only the letters "POW/MIA" and
that format was continued until 1982 when a black and white drawing of a
POW in harsh captivity was used to convey the urgency of the situation and
the priority that President Reagan assigned to achieving the fullest possible
accounting for Americans still missing from the Vietnam War.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day legislation was
introduced yearly, until 1995 when it was deemed by Congress that legislation
for special days would no longer be proclaimed by Congress. However, the
President continues to sign a proclamation each year. In the early years,
the date was routinely set in close proximity to the League's annual meetings.
In the mid-1980's, the American Ex-POWs decided that they wished to see the
date established as April 9th, the date during World War II when the largest
number of Americans were captured. As a result, legislation was passed in
1984 which included a July date, but established April 9th as the commemoration
date for 1985. |
The 1984
National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the White House. At
that most impressive ceremony, the Reagan Administration balanced the focus
to honor all returned POWs and renew national commitment to accounting as
fully as possible for those still missing. Perhaps the most impressive Missing
Man formation ever flown was that year, up the Ellipse and over the White
House. Unfortunately, the 1985 ceremony was canceled due to inclement weather,
a concern which the League had expressed when the April 9th date was first
proposed.
Subsequently, in an effort to accommodate
all returned POWs and all Americans still missing and unaccounted for from
all wars, the National League of Families proposed a date in September, usually
the third Friday, not associated with any particular war and not in conjunction
with any organization's national convention. Nearly all National POW/MIA
Recognition Day ceremonies have been held at the Pentagon; however, on September
19, 1986, the national ceremony was held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol
facing the Mall, again concluding with a flight in Missing Man
formation.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Ceremonies are now held throughout the nation and around the world on
military installations, ships at sea, schools, churches and fire stations.
The focus is to ensure that America remembers its responsibility to stand
behind those who serve our nation and do everything possible to account for
those who do not return. |
