POW-MIA


 

POW/MIA

 

The American Legion is committed to achieving a full accounting of all POW/MIAs from the Gulf War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Korean War and World War II. This means returning living POWs, the repatriation of their remains, or finding convincing evidence why neither of these is possible. The American Legion supports the continued declassification of all POW/MIA information, the strengthening of joint commissions with Russia, North Korea and China, and adequate resourcing of investigative efforts and field operations to resolve POW/MIA issues. The American Legion has also worked continuously with both Congress and DoD to improve the policies and programs for the accountability of missing persons.

 

Recognition Day: For years, The American Legion supported a National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is now recognized annually on the third Friday of September.

 

POW/MIA Empty Chair: Resolution 288, adopted at the 67th American Legion National Convention, calls for designating a POW/MIA Empty Chair at all official meetings of The American Legion as a physical symbol of the thousands of American POW/MIAs still unaccounted for from all wars and conflicts involving the United States.

 

 

POW/MIA Remembrance Service

 

“Those who have served, and those currently serving in the uniformed services of the United States, are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice.  We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured and may still be enduring the agonies of pain, deprivation and imprisonment.

“Before we begin our activities, we pause to recognize our POWs and MIAs.

“We call your attention to this small table which occupies a place of dignity and honor.  It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks.  They are referred to as POWs and MIAs.

We call them comrades.  They are unable to be with their loved ones and families, so we join together to pay humble tribute to them, and to bear witness to their continued absence.

“The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner, alone against his or her suppressors.

“The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their Country’s call to arms.

“The single rose in the vase signifies the blood they may have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America.  This rose also reminds us of the family and friends of our missing comrades who keep faith, while awaiting their return.

“The red ribbon on the vase represents the red ribbons worn on the lapels of the thousands who demand, with unyielding determination, a proper account of our comrades who are not among us.

“A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.

“The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

“The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us at this time.

“The chair is empty.  They are NOT here.

“The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope, which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to open arms of a grateful nation.

“The American flag reminds us that many of them may never return—and have paid the supreme sacrifice to insure our freedom.

“Let us pray to the Supreme Commander that all of our comrades will soon be back within our ranks.

“Let us remember—and never forget their sacrifice.

“May God forever watch over them and protect them and their families.”

 

 

 

永遠懷念在戰爭中被俘虜或失蹤同袍

 

請大家注意!放在我們面前,極為顯著地方,的一張小餐桌。它只設一個坐位,象徵在我們部隊裡面失落的成員。他們被通稱為戰俘或失蹤人員。

我們稱呼他們為同袍。由於他們不能與他們親人在一起,所以我們齊集在這裡為他們的不在作見證。一同証實他們仍然缺席。

“這一張小子,代表一個危殆的戰俘,單獨地面對各種虐待。

桌布是白色的象徵他們純潔的愛國心,響應國家的號召參軍。

“花瓶裡一枝紅玫瑰象徵他們,為了保障我們國家的自由,而灑下的熱血。紅玫瑰亦為我們帶來啟示,這些同袍的家人及朋友們,還在充滿信心地期待著他們的歸來。

“花瓶上的紅絲帶,代表千千萬萬襟上帶著紅絲帶的人,以堅強的決心,要求對那些不能和我們在一起的同袍,能有一個正確結論。

“碟上一片檸檬,令我們不會忘記他們的辛酸命運。

“灑在碟上的,令我們想起他們的親人,在等待他們歸來而流下無數的珠淚。

“覆著的酒杯,是因為今夜他們不能和我們一齊舉杯共醉。

子是空的,因為他們不在。

“一支蠟燭,代表著希望的光芒,在我們心中燃燒著,照耀他們在歸家的路上,遠離那些追捕者,早點回到張臂歡迎他們的祖國。

美國國旗,啟示我們,他們中有很多將是永遠不會歸來了。他們可能已經為我們的自由,而付出最高的代價。

“讓我們向冥冥中的主宰禱告,所有的同袍都能早日平安歸隊。

“更讓我們永遠不會忘記,他們所作的犧牲!

“希望上帝永遠照顧他們,保祐他們及他們的親人。”