Tag: honoring fallen soldiers

Observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Posted on by Jordank

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on Sept. 19 this year, honoring service members who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are still missing in action (MIA). Its eternal message? That POWs and MIAs will not be forgotten.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day became an official observance under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, with the families of more than 2,500 Vietnam POW/MIAs pushing for full accountability. While associated with those who served in Vietnam, the day isn’t limited to their recognition.

More than 130,000 U.S. service members were held as POWs in World War II, and 14,072 of them died. Some 7,000 were imprisoned in the Korean War, and 2,701 of them died. And 725 service members were imprisoned in Vietnam; 64 died.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 83,000 Americans remain missing in action, including more than 73,000 from World War II and more than 7,000 from the Korean War. The number of MIAs in Vietnam is now 1,571.

The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that prioritizes recovery and identification of its service members. Efforts are ongoing to identify MIAs — and each year, more men and women are identified from their remains and interred with military honors.

The most recent to be identified is U.S. Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, who was killed when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley. U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas E. Scheurich was identified in April, 57 years after his A-6A Intruder was shot down.

The Vietnam Veterans of America’s Veterans Initiative Program helps identify remains, using clues from maps, stories, after-action reports, pictures and personal items. It’s just one of the initiatives funded in part by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org.

You can honor POW/MIAs in multiple ways this week. Fly a POW/MIA flag below or adjacent to your U.S. flag. Take a moment of silence when you see it flown. Wear a POW/MIA bracelet. Attend a local ceremony featuring the POW/MIA Missing Man Table. And support veterans organizations dedicated to recovering the missing.

Observing Proper Memorial Day Flag Etiquette

Posted on by Jordank

On #Memorial Day, American #flags should be raised “to full staff briskly, then lowered to a half-staff position, where they will remain until noon,” according to the Farmer’s Almanac. If you wish to volunteer to place small flags or wreaths on the #graves of those who served, contact the local chapters of #veterans organizations such as Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion or Daughters of the American Revolution. “The ritual of visiting family graves and memorials was never a morbid tradition,” the almanac says. “Rather, it was an annual act of #remembrance, as well as a chance to clean and decorate family memorials.”

Make Memorial Day Meaningful

Posted on by Jordank

While most Americans see #Memorial Day as an excuse to kick back, cook out and watch a parade, make time to remember those who gave their lives in service, the Wounded Warrior Project says. Pay tribute to their memory by flying the #flag or placing flowers or wreaths on deceased service members’ graves. When it comes to #thanking a #veteran, remember that the holiday is reserved for those who lost their lives in conflict, so ask living veterans to have a “meaningful” Memorial Day and/or say the name of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice, the project says. “You can even say, ‘Today and always, I’m remembering [veteran’s name].’” #MemorialDay

Don’t Forget Living Veterans on Memorial Day

Posted on by Jordank

While Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate #sacrifice in #service to the nation, it never hurts to support living #veterans, too. Many know the sacrifice personally, and lived to tell the tale. Some need assitance such as health care, financial support or simple companionship. That’s where ClothingDonations.org comes in: By collecting and reselling #donations of lightly used clothing, small appliances, furniture and other household goods, we help fund valuable #veterans programs throughout the country, helping all who served access housing, health care and benefits claims, as well as offering fellowship. #MemorialDay

Keep Memories Alive for Memorial Day

Posted on by Jordank

Finding a parade or commemorative event is as simple as Googling “Memorial Day near me.” But if you’re more the type to host a #cookout, go on a hike or spend the long weekend in a hotel, you can still observe the #sacrifice those who gave their lives in service made. Fly the flag, donate flowers or shop a #veteran-owned business, Good Housekeeping suggests. Learn a #patriotic song, visit a cemetery or post a tribute to social media. Whatever you choose, any heartfelt observance is a great way to keep the memory of the nation’s fallen service members alive. #MemorialDay