Capitol Hill in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

POW/MIA Bracelet History

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 13, 2022

1. POW/MIA Bracelet History Marker

Inscription.
POW/MIA bracelets shaped like this monument were the creation of two members of Los Angeles-based student organization Voices in Vital America (VIVA). The organization formed in 1967 to show support for Prisoners of War and those Missing In Action in Southeast Asia. The purpose was to engage college students awareness of POW's and MIA's but not the controversy over the War.

The students, their faculty advisor and her husband collectively produced the initial production run of 1,200 bracelets. Each bracelet was engraved with the name, rank and date the service member was listed as Missing.

VIVA introduced the bracelet on Veterans Dav 1970 at a gathering of missing service member families in Washington, D.C, the idea was met with overwhelming support.

Orders flooded in, reaching a high of more than 12,000 bracelets per day. VIVA closed in 1976 after producing more than five million bracelets. All profits of the venture were spent to raise awareness of the more than 2,600 Americans unaccounted for after the Vietnam War ended in 1973. The bracelets remain popular today
This VIVA Bracelet Monument dedicated courtesy of: Big Bend Chapter #96 Vietnam Veterans of America
Jim & Sandy Dafoe - Skip & Melode Smelko - Erwin & Stefanie Jackson Danny & Tracey Shrine - Capital City Bank - Trulieve

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 30° 26.243′ N, 84° 16.83′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. It is in Capitol Hill. It is on South Monroe Street south of W. Pensacola Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 489 S Monroe Street, Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Florida.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Florida’s Vietnam Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Capt. John Parkhill (within shouting distance of this marker); R.A. Gray Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 13, 2022

2. POW/MIA Bracelet History Marker

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Union Bank of Florida (about 300 feet away); Leon County Civil War Monument (about 400 feet away); The Elliot Building and Capitol Center Historic District (about 400 feet away); Old Capitol of Florida (about 500 feet away); Combat Wounded Veterans (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tallahassee.

Other markers no longer nearby. Selection of Florida's Capital (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Capitol of Florida (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Remembering the history of POW-MIA bracelets. (Submitted on November 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 458 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.