National POW/MIA Recognition Day

September 19, 2009 — Yesterday September 18, 2009 was National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This national recognition is always the third Friday in September. This day of recognition is not mandated by Congress, but each year by Presidential Proclamation. The first commemoration was held on July 18, 1979 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the day is to honor America's POW/MIAs, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars.

Military and veterans organizations around the world observe this day of recognition by flying their flag at half-staff and an appropriate ceremony. The ceremony which has become most popular and appropriate is described here http://www.war-veterans.org/Ceremony.htm.

I am proud to say that in my tenure as Post Commander of I.P. "Sarge" Bell VFW Post 3377 Manchaca, Texas we adopted a Vietnam War POW/MIA Maj. Larry J. Hanley, USAF and created a remembrance wall in our Post Home to honor him and his fellow POW/MIAs from all wars. My niece Tamara Burkett, because she believed it was the right thing to do, donated financial support for the walls creation. The design of the wall was a joint effort between myself and fellow post member Bill Reesman. Bill did all the work on the wall himself and for years has served as our Post POW/MIA representative in all official ceremonies that we hold and parades where we participate.

Bill's association with the POW/MIA issue is worth considering. He is a Vietnam veteran and along with his wife Teen and their entire family are dedicated to serving veterans and active duty and reserve personnel. Sometime in the 1970's, after the creation of the POW/MIA bracelet, Bill's grandmother sought the wearing of such a bracelet and received Major Hanley's. Major Hanley was shot down over Laos in November 1969 during his second tour in Southeast Asia. His remains have never been recovered. When Bill's grandmother passed away the bracelet was passed on to him. That bracelet is part of our wall and Bill continues to wear a duplicate bracelet that never leaves his wrist.

When the dedication of our wall occurred in September 2003 it was attended by one of Major Hanley's sisters and her husband. Their attendance added just the right touch to our dedication. Through Bill we had asked the families permission to create the wall centered around Major Hanley and they gave us their complete support. In our discussions with the family we learned that the Major was single. When his family asked him why he was volunteering for a second tour in the Vietnam War his response was that he was going back so some family man would not have to.

So, yesterday our Post Commander conducted the Missing Man table ceremony in front of our wall. It was an honor to witness the ceremony and a very proud moment. To Maj. Hanley, his family, and all POW/MIAs and their families...You Are Not Forgotten...it's what really matters!