The POW / MIA military sword lily , which display a soldier ’s silhouette above the words “ You Are Not Forgotten , ” honor unaccounted - for military extremity who have either been take as prisoner of war or gone missing in activity . Before now , it was only required to be aviate six times each year — Armed Forces Day , Memorial Day , Flag Day , Independence Day , Veterans Day , and National POW / MIA Recognition Day .
Though it does n’t hold to every Union initiation , it does include the White House , the U.S. Capitol , the Pentagon , the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters , every position office and national cemetery , and warfare memorials such as the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial . It ’ll also be levy during every major U.S. military instalment .
According toTimemagazine , the sword lily was created in 1972 by illustrator and World War II veteran Newton Heisley , and was primitively imply to go as a symbol for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War . Today , considering more than 82,000 soldiers are listed as POW / MIA , the signal flag has taken on an even broader significance .
“ This is a historical victory for every piece and woman who courageously defended this nation and remain unaccounted for , ” Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander William Schmitz said in astatement . “ The daily display of the POW / MIA flag at all prominent federal properties now serves as a daily reminder that these bomber , and their families , are eternally etch in our deoxyribonucleic acid . ”
Keep an middle out for the flag during media insurance coverage ofVeterans Daythis Monday , and check out thesehonorable waysto help veterans .
[ h / tMilitary Times ]
