Earlier this year, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Air Force Maj. John Creighton Gillespie Kerr, leaving the number of Americans still missing in action and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War at 1,576. The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and its local chapters help find and identify MIA remains through its Veterans Initiative Program, which uses artifacts taken from battlefields such as maps, after-action reports, pictures and other items to help locate the remains of those who gave their lives in service. Your #donations of used #clothing and #household goods to ClothingDonations.org support this program and many others that help living veterans on a daily basis. Schedule a #pickup today! #NationalPOW/MIARecognitionDay
Tag: honoring veterans
How to Observe National POW/MIA Recognition Day
You can #honor American military personnel who were held as prisoners of war and for those still unaccounted for on Sept. 20, National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The solemn event will be celebrated at military installations, veterans organizations and national landmarks such as the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to stress the importance of bringing home those who remain missing. Get involved by attending a ceremony, observing a moment of silence, flying the #POW/MIA flag, learning more about the history and experiences of POWs and MIAs, or #donating to or volunteering with a #veterans organization. #NationalPOW/MIARecognitionDay
Recognizing National POW/MIA Day
In 1979, Congress passed a resolution establishing POW/MIA Recognition Day after the families of the more than 2,500 #Vietnam War POW/MIAs pushed for full accountability. Observed on the third Friday in September each year at the Pentagon, military installations, state capitols, schools and #veterans’ facilities, the day honors those who were held captive and returned home, as well as those who remain missing. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency indicates that more than 81,600 American service members remain missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts. #POW/MIA
Observing Proper Memorial Day Flag Etiquette
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
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