hobbs49

Not really sure where to put this so I decided to try here since I'm sure that some really smart folks read the Head Staff forum. Plus one could consider the color guard to be a part of the headstaff, I'd think.

I've been going to powwows for a real long time and it seems that most all of the dances have the color guard carrying in a POW/MIA flag. I'm old enough to remember when one didn't really see this flag flown very often so I still take a lot of notice when I do see it. I'd even venture to say that I see this flag much more at powwows than anywhere else today.

I was at a dance last year where they had not only a black POW/MIA flag, but also a red one and a green one. I believe that they had a couple of others with different colors as well. I'd never seen that before.

So does anyone know how many of the 89.000 MIA's are actually Native American? Or is there some other reason that the flag is always flown at a powwow? I'm not complaining, just seeking a higher degree of understanding.

Thanks for any insight you may have on the subject.

Ndnsoldierboy

Lori Piestewa was a originally listed as MIA then to POW...

A Nez Perce NDN I remember reading about was in the Bataan death march...he survived in captivity for the duration of WW II. He was from Lapwai, ID, my hometown.

I don't know why there are other colors because there is only supposed to be a black colored flag.


Alot of the Navy ships that went down in WW II are burial grounds now for those entombed. There are probably NDNs on those ships as well...MIA, later classified as dead. Now in the Hands of God.



NATIVE AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN WARTIME

_More than 12,000 Native Americans served during World War I, though they weren't official U.S. citizens.
_More than 44,500 served in World War II, a greater per-capita rate than any other ethnic group.
_More than 50,000 served in Vietnam, 90 percent of them as volunteers
MEDAL OF HONOR
At least 11 Native Americans have won the military's highest award for bravery.

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CHEROSAGE

Hey Hobbs, good to hear from you again.

I am familliar with only the black POW-MIA flag. I have seen this danced in opposite the other flags. This is called the lone or lost Soldier. I too, remember when you hardly ever saw this flag. I was told that those who served in VietNam like this flag to remember their lost friends and those who didn't return home for what ever the reason. Now, Remember I'm not refering to all VietNam Vets.

I remember sitting watching the Lottery and saw my Birthday come up. I wasn't 18 yet, I thought this ment me too. Mom and Dad said this didn't apply to me. I was kinda let down. Dad had just came home again, and my Cuzn returned from Nam a few years earlier. My Uncle was in the Navy, he was a Pilot early on in the war.

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BOB

Josiah

I remember when I first saw it and it was black and have always seen it black

My understanding at first was to raise awareness of the many that were left behind in Vietnam
Now its become the unofficial flag of the whole conflict...

But their is no Official Protocol regarding it, it has different meanings to different people
And that is my opinion

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Josiah

I googled some more info on the flag
Here you go:

In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of Families, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida Times-Union, Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President of Annin & Company which had made a banner for the newest member of the United Nations, the People's Republic of China, as a part of their policy to provide flags to all United Nations members states. Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and he, along with Annin's advertising agency, designed a flag to represent our missing men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution.
On March 9, 1989, an official League flag, which flew over the White House on 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress. In a demonstration of bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony.

The League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda where it will stand as a powerful symbol of national commitment to America's POW/MIAs until the fullest possible accounting has been achieved for U.S. personnel still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, which recognized the League's POW/MIA flag and designated it "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation".

The importance of the League's POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America's POW/MIAs. Other than "Old Glory", the League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982. With passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during the first term of the 105th Congress, the League's POW/MIA flag will fly each year on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day on the grounds or in the public lobbies of major military installations as designated by the Secretary of the Defense, all Federal national cemeteries, the national Korean War Veterans Memorial, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Postal Service post offices and at the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veteran's Affairs, and Director of the Selective Service System.

© 1998 National League of POW/MIA Families
For more information visit National League of Families

I stand Corrected!!!
Protocol regarding the Pow/MIA Flag
POW/MIA flag is displayed when appropriate and normally only with the US flag (US flag takes the position of honor).

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hobbs49

Thanks everyone for your contributions here. This is really interesting. The statistics on the Native Americans in the military was interesting and while I didn't have the "numbers" I felt that the data would be like this. Also the information on the history of the flag is also new to me. I hadn't done that research. I did look around and saw on some of the flag protocol associated with the US and POW/MIA flags.

If anyone has more to add, I'd certainly enjoy hearing from you too!

Again, thanks!

Ndnsoldierboy

When we have our evening ceremonies where soldiers are in dress blues, or class A uniform, we always have an empty table and seat who are KIA, MIA/POW and toast to those who gave their lives. I always get teary eyed cause I know so many who no longer here with us. They were good friends and outstanding heroes.

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