We will not rest until we achieve the fullest possible accounting of all missing American military service members from all wars.
POW/MIA Chairman
Chad Caldwell
(864) 764-8668
chad.caldwell2@yahoo.com
The numbers of unaccounted-for personnel are staggering, currently 83,000, and
the length of time since they have been lost is extensive, going back to World
War II. Many will never be recovered because the loss occurred over deep water,
were due to catastrophic explosions, or eyewitnesses to the incidents have long
since passed, but every new identification helps bring closure to one more
American family, and is one step closer to achieving the fullest possible
accounting of our missing. It is also a re-commitment to those serving in
uniform today that America will bring you home.
We encourage the U.S. government to continue its POW/MIA accounting efforts,
and we are directly engaged with other nations and their veterans’ groups to
urge their cooperation and assistance to obtain information about missing
Americans. VFW national officers make annual trips to Pacific, Asian and
European countries where they always meet with senior host-country officials to
stress the importance of conducting investigation and recovery operations, as
well as gaining access to documents and archival research facilities.
The VFW is the only veterans’ organization to return to Southeast Asia every
year since 1991, to Russia since 2004, and now into China for nearly a decade.
The VFW opens doors on a vet-to-vet level that makes us the envy of U.S.
government politicians and bureaucrats who must follow a strict protocol.
The VFW's Action Corps weekly
e-newsletter lists returned MIAs once their names are posted on the Defense POW/MIA
Accounting Agency's website
POW/MIA Brochure
NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, SEPTEMBER 21.
Posts should conduct an appropriate ceremony. Information
on conducting a ceremony can be found in the current VFW Manual of Procedure.
For POW/MIA merchandise, click http://www.vfwstore.org/category/memorial/pow-mia.
POW/MIA FLAG -- OFFICIAL
DISPLAY DAYS.
Public Law 105-85 (November 16, 1997) indicates the days
that federal agencies, military installations and U.S. post offices are
required to display the POW/MIA flag. The days are:
Ensure you document your ceremony and submit it for Community Service.