| Until
July 18th, 1979, no commemoration was held to honor America's
POW/MIAs, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted
for from our nation's wars. That first year, resolutions were
passed in the Congress and the national ceremony was held at the
National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Missing Man formation
was flown by the 1st Tactical Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia.
The Veterans Administration published a poster including only
the letters "POW/MIA" and that format was continued until 1982
when a black and white drawing of a POW in harsh captivity was
used to convey the urgency of the situation and the priority
that President Reagan assigned to achieving the fullest possible
accounting for Americans still missing from the Vietnam War.
National POW/MIA Recognition Day legislation was introduced
yearly, until 1995 when it was deemed by Congress that
legislation for special days would no longer be proclaimed by
Congress. However, the President continues to sign a
proclamation each year. In the early years, the date was
routinely set in close proximity to the League's annual
meetings. In the mid-1980's, the American Ex-POWs decided that
they wished to see the date established as April 9th, the date
during World War II when the largest number of Americans were
captured. As a result, legislation was passed in 1984 which
included a July date, but established April 9th as the
commemoration date for 1985.
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The
1984 National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the
White House. At that most impressive ceremony, the Reagan
Administration balanced the focus to honor all returned POWs and
renew national commitment to accounting as fully as possible for
those still missing. Perhaps the most impressive Missing Man
formation ever flown was that year, up the Ellipse and over the
White House. Unfortunately, the 1985 ceremony was canceled due
to inclement weather, a concern which the League had expressed
when the April 9th date was first proposed.
Subsequently, in an effort to accommodate all returned POWs
and all Americans still missing and unaccounted for from all
wars, the National League of Families proposed a date in
September, usually the third Friday, not associated with any
particular war and not in conjunction with any organization's
national convention. Nearly all National POW/MIA Recognition Day
ceremonies have been held at the Pentagon; however, on September
19, 1986, the national ceremony was held on the steps of the
U.S. Capitol facing the Mall, again concluding with a flight in
Missing Man formation.
National POW/MIA
Recognition Day Ceremonies are now held throughout the nation
and around the world on military installations, ships at sea,
schools, churches and fire stations. The focus is to ensure that
America remembers its responsibility to stand behind those who
serve our nation and do everything possible to account for those
who do not return.
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