When you see this black and white flag, what do you think?

Do you wonder what this flag is for?

The guard tower, the barb wire, the bowed head.

The POW/MIA Freedom Fighters is a not-for-profit organization, run solely by volunteers. Their main goal is to bring all Americans home, alive or dead, from wherever they may be held or lay lost.

There are now 1,740 U.S. personnel listed by the Defense POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from Vietnam.

Their goal is to ensure that the public will never forget the sacrifices of the American soldiers who have defended our freedom, to remember Americas responsibility to support those who served our nation, and to do everything possible to bring these POW/MIAs home, alive or dead.

July 18, 1979, was the first commemoration honoring Americas Prisoners of War, Missing in Action, those returned or those still missing from our nations wars.

The first National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony was held at the White House in 1984, hosted by President Ronald Reagan.

This year it will be Sept. 18. It is one of the six days specified by law 36USC 902 on which the black POW/MIA flag shall be flown over the federal facilities and cemeteries, post offices and military installations.

Remember the POW/MIAs and all our military personnel.

You are not forgotten!

Betty Jones

VFW Auxiliary 447

Albert Lea