G.I. P.O.W. M.I.A. and K.I.A Memorial

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

This monument serves to honor those who have serve, died, or gone missing in action. The monument resides in front of the Putnam county courthouse. This began in 1971 by a MIA wife who pushed for further recognition of those taken POW and MIA during the Vietnam War. Agencies such as the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) keep track and account for all men who have been captured or declared missing during times of war and provide statistics on them.

Images

The front view of the memorial.

A profile shot of the memorial with the Putnam county courthouse in the background

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

This monument serves to honor those lost, taken prisoner, and killed in action during times of war. This is one of many monuments across the United States to honor missing and imprisoned soldiers. Each year on the third Friday in September is POW/MIA Recognition Day, where a moment of silence is taken and the POW/MIA flag is flown across all military installations.

In 1971, Mary Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, saw the need for a symbol for POW/MIAs. She set out to find someone to help her design it, and was able to get help from those that had created the banner welcoming the Peoples Republic of China into the United Nations. The flag is Black, and in the center, in Black and white, the emblem of the League. The emblem is a white circle with a Black silhouette of a man, watch tower with a guard holding a rifle, and barbed wire. Above the circle are the white letters POW and MIA; below the circle is the motto "you are not forgotten".

This Flag serves as a powerful symbol and is still flown at the White House. On March 9, 1989, a POW/MIA Flag was installed in the United States Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed during the 100th session of Congress. To date this is the only non-federal flag displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda.

Sources

Streufert, Duane. The History of The Vietnam War POW/MIA Flag. USFlag.org. . . http://www.usflag.org/pow.mia.html.

Flock, Elizabeth. The POW/MIA Flag Still Flies High Despite Questions. US News. 2/28/13. . https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/02/28/the-powmia-flag-still-flies-high-despite-questions.

History of POW MIA. National League of POW MIA Families. . . https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/history-of-the-powmia-flag.html.