POW/MIA Flag History
In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife
and member of the National League of Families, recognized the need for
a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville,
Florida Times-Union, Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President
of Annin & Company which had made a banner for the newest member of
the United Nations, the People’s Republic of China, as a part of their
policy to provide flags to all United Nations members states. Mrs. Hoff
found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and 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 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.
© 1998 National League of POW/MIA Families |
