2012
The Cost of Freedom.
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National POW/MIA Recognition Day is September 21, 2012
NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, 2012
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
For more than two centuries, Americans have bravely
served our Nation as members of our Armed Forces. Many have made profound sacrifices to uphold the ideals we
cherish, carrying wounds that may never fully heal and dark memories that will never fade. Today, we pay solemn
tribute to service members who bore war's tragic costs as prisoners of war and those missing in action. We stand
with the families who have known the lingering ache of a loved one's uncertain fate. And as a Nation, we reaffirm a
most sacred obligation: that we must never forget the men and women who did not come home, and that we must never
stop trying to return them to their families and the country they fought to protect.
As long as members of our Armed Forces remain unaccounted for, America will bring our fullest resources to bear in
finding them and bringing them home. It is a promise we make not only to the families of our captured and our
missing, but to all who have worn the uniform. Our Nation continues to recover the remains of fallen heroes we lost
in the Vietnam War, the Korean War, World War II, and other conflicts. And as these patriots are finally laid to
rest, we pray their return brings closure and a measure of peace to those who knew and loved them. During this day
of recognition, let us honor their sacrifice once more by expressing our deepest gratitude to our service members,
our veterans, our military families, and all those who have given so much to keep our country safe.
On September 21, 2012, the stark black and white banner symbolizing America's Missing in Action and Prisoners of War
will be flown over the White House; the United States Capitol; the Departments of State, Defense, and Veterans
Affairs; the Selective Service System Headquarters; the World War II Memorial; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial; United States post offices; national cemeteries; and other locations across our country.
We raise this flag as a solemn reminder of our obligation to always remember the sacrifices made to defend our
Nation. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim September 21, 2012, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I urge all Americans to observe
this day of honor and remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
The President issues a proclamation commemorating the
observances and reminding the nation of those Americans who have sacrificed so much for their country.
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea,
state capitols, schools and veterans' facilities. It is traditionally observed on the third Friday in September each
year. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National
League of Families' POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and
Veterans Day.
The flag is to be flown at major military installations,
national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans
Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans
affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House.
James E. "Jim" Ferris National President,
KWVA/US
(First Posted 9/7/08, updated 9/20/12) |