PROGRAM COORDINATOR -

The POW-MIA Flag Program: In part of educating the public of the POW-MIA issue. Raising and flying POW-MIA flags are essential to public awareness. Our objective is to have as many POW-MIA flags flying as possible throughout Volusia County and through organizational partnering throughout the State of Florida. 

POW/MIA's - Summary by the The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

As of 2 February 2024 DPAA reports the following regarding POW-MIA

In 1973 reports indicate the following.

Conflict             POW-MIA              Accounted For       Still Missing

WWII                        73,679                  1,561                      72,118

Korea                         8,157                     674                        7,483

Vietnam                      2,641                  1,064                        1,577

Cold War                       128                         2                           126

Iraq/Gulf                            6                         0                               6  _

            Total                       84,611                   2,301                      81,310

A POW-MIA Flag Raising: This is an opportunity for local businesses and organizations, as well as community members and residents to support Rolling Thunder® Inc. Florida Chapter 8, by helping promote the POW-MIA cause and the awareness and education of the POW-MIA issue. Our Chapter is honored to host flag ceremonies and will provide a 3’x5’ POW-MIA flag to those wanting to participate. The POW-MIA flag is the only other National flag besides  old glory. On a single flag pole it is flown beneath the American flag therefore the flag pole intended, must be tall enough to fly both flags. If there are more than one flag pole, they can be flown separately.

POW-MIA Flag Sponsor Program: This part of the program is having sponsors adopt a flag site and donate $100.00 per year to Rolling Thunder®, who will then maintain and replace the POW-MIA flag as needed at that site.

THE HISTORY OF THE POW-MIA FLAG

In 1970, 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 (PRC), as part of their policy to manufacture flags for all United Nations member states.

Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and he and an Annin advertising agency employee, Newt Heisley, designed a flag to represent our missing men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution. Wanting the widest possible dissemination and use of the symbol to advocate improved treatment for and answers on American POW/MIAs, no trade mark or copyright was sought. The widespread use of the League’s POW/MIA flag is not restricted legally, nor do profits from its commercial sale benefit the League.

On March 9, 1989, an official League flag that flew over the White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day 1988 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 stands as a powerful symbol of America’s determination to account for US 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 from all wars, including those now ongoing.

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.

Passage by the 105th Congress of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act required that the League’s POW/MIA flag fly six days each year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day. It must be displayed at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, the headquarters of the Selective Service System, major military installations as designated by the Secretary of the Defense, all

Federal cemeteries and all offices of the U.S. Postal Service. In addition to the specific dates stipulated, the Department of Veterans Affairs voluntarily displays our POW/MIA flag 24/7. The National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial are now also required by law to display the POW/MIA flag daily, and most State Capitols have adopted similar laws, as have local governments nationwide.