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Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
 

POW★MIA

You Are Not Forgotten

 
 
POW*MIA Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe
1. POW*MIA Marker
Inscription. At the end of the Vietnam War (1959-1975), there were more than 2,000 servicemen and women missing in action in Vietnam, Laos and other countries in Southeast Asia. The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia was established in 1970 for the purpose of increasing public awareness of the plight of captured or missing American servicemen during the Vietnam War, to obtain the release of all prisoners, provide the fullest possible accounting of the missing, and return all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation in Southeast Asia.

In 1971, following League approval, a POW/MIA flag (shown to the left) was designed. The flag is black and white, with the emblem of the League in the center. The emblem is a white disk enclosing the silhouette of a POW, a watch tower with a guard holding a rifle, and a strand of barbed wire. Above the disk are the letters POW (Prisoner Of War) and MIA (Missing In Action) framing a white five-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the motto “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.”

On March 9, 1989, a POW/MIA Flag, which flew over the White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the United States Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th
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session of Congress. The leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support. This POW/MIA Flag, the only flag displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda, stands as a powerful symbol of our national commitment to our POW/MIAs.

Today, there are over 8,000 American service men and women missing in action and their remains and whereabouts unaccounted for. This flag has now become a symbol for POW/MIAs from all American wars. The importance of the POW/MIA Flag lies in its continued visibility…a constant reminder of the plight of our American POW/MIAs and our hope and prayer that they will never be forgotten.
 
Erected 2008 by Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Abingdon/Washington County, Virginia, Inc.
 
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1989.
 
Location. 36° 42.381′ N, 81° 58.575′ W. Marker is in Abingdon, Virginia, in Washington County. Memorial is at the intersection of Cumming Street SW and Grove Terrace Drive SW, on the right when traveling south on Cumming Street SW. Located in Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 335 Cummings Street, Abingdon VA 24210, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Minutemen (here, next to this marker); Bronze "Yellow" Ribbon Monument
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(a few steps from this marker); Animals in Service (a few steps from this marker); For God and Country (a few steps from this marker); Split Rail Fence & The American Chestnut (within shouting distance of this marker); Daughters of the American Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); The War on Terrorism (within shouting distance of this marker); Women in Military Service for America (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abingdon.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 413 times since then and 7 times this year. Photo   1. submitted on August 4, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 18, 2024