FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POW/MIA Remembrance Day Statement
by National Commander Santos

WASHINGTON (Sept. 21, 2001) - American Legion National Commander Richard J. Santos issued the following statement on this POW/MIA Remembrance Day. The 2.8-million member American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans organization:

“Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Let us take a moment from our daily routine to reflect on the plight of thousands of Americans who went to fight for freedom and their fate is still unknown.

“This is a fitting occasion to remind our members of Congress to support policies that will encourage Vietnam to protect human rights and to account fully for the 1,956 Americans listed as prisoners of war or missing in action from the Vietnam War.
Imagine the torment the families of missing servicemen have experienced. Birthdays and holidays have passed, and still no word of their loved ones. We want policies that will ensure families of future POW/MIAs will not suffer a decades-long delay in closure.

“The Vietnam Human Rights Act, HR 2833, which passed in the House Sept. 6 by a vote of 410-1, would link future increases in non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam’s progress on human rights, including the release of political and religious prisoners. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Smith introduced the bill. We must encourage our U.S. Senators to pass this legislation.

“Our leaders should do more to force Vietnam to be forthcoming on the POW/MIA issue. Vietnam helps U.S. search teams to find the remains of our missing countrymen - but for a fee. Vietnam has yet to turn over Communist Party records from the Vietnam War that could help to account for missing servicemen such as those categorized as ‘last known alive.’

“The families of American POW/MIAs are in our prayers today. Those families deserve our support as well as our prayers. As time marches on, and we mark yet another POW/MIA Recognition Day, an adjustment of policy is the least our nation can do. It is up to you and me to be our lost brothers’ keeper and to make our elected officials do the right thing.”

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Copyright©2001 by The American Legion