On National Former POW Recognition Day, Pappas honors former prisoners of war, and urges White House, other Federal properties to follow his law mandating promoted display of the POW/MIA flag
Today on National Former POW Recognition Day, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, is urging all federal properties, including the White House, to continue to prominently fly the POW/MIA flag in accordance to legislation that he introduced in the House, fought to pass, and was signed by President Trump last year.
Today the POW/MIA flag is flying from atop the White House in commemoration of National Former POW Recognition Day. This follows repeated calls by Pappas for President Trump to follow the law he introduced and to fly the POW/MIA flag on top of the White House.
"The POW/MIA Flag represents the courage and sacrifice members of our armed forces have given on behalf of this nation throughout our history," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "By putting the flag on full display outside of prominent federal buildings, memorials, and national cemeteries, we are reaffirming our commitment to the more than 82,000 servicemembers who remain unaccounted for. As the representative of New Hampshire's First Congressional District, which has the longest-running POW/MIA vigil in America, I have seen how important the flag is to demonstrate that these heroes are not forgotten. I urge all federal properties, including the White House, to continue to follow the letter and spirit of my legislation to display the POW/MIA Flag and honor our servicemembers, veterans, and their families."
The POW/MIA Flag Act requires the POW/MIA Flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, the office of the Director of the Selective Service System, each major military installation (as designated by the Secretary of Defense), each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, and each United States Postal Service post office.
Congressman Pappas and Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) introduced the POW/MIA Flag Act in the House in March of 2019 to honor the more than 82,000 Americans who are listed as Prisoners of War (POW), Missing in Action (MIA), or otherwise unaccounted for from our nation's past wars and conflicts. President Trump signed this legislation into law in November 2019.
Background:
Prior to Rep. Pappas's legislation, the POW/MIA Flag was required to be displayed by the federal government on certain prominent federal properties only six days per year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. The National POW/MIA Flag Act now ensures that the POW/MIA Flag is displayed whenever the U.S. flag is displayed, effectively ensuring that both flags are displayed concurrently every day at federal locations already designated under existing law.
This legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Pappas and Bergman on March 7, 2019 and passed without objection in October. Companion legislation, which was introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Thune (R-SD), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), passed the Senate with unanimous consent in May.
The bill was endorsed by Rolling Thunder, Inc. National; the National League of POW/MIA Families; Veterans of Foreign Wars; The American Legion; National Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen; American Ex-Prisoners of War; and AMVETS.
Original source can be found here.
