National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2006

Proclamation 8051 of September 14, 2006

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2006

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

As a Nation, we look to our service men and women as
examples of courage and sacrifice. When our country and
the world have needed brave Americans to advance the
cause of freedom, our men and women in uniform have
proudly stepped forward and selflessly endured
hardships to defend liberty. We are grateful to all who
have served, and on National POW/MIA Recognition Day,
we give special honor to the extraordinary patriots who
have been prisoners of war and to those who are still
missing in action. We take inspiration from their valor
and loyalty and will not rest until we have accounted
for them all.

On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the National
League of Families POW/MIA flag is flown over the White
House, the Capitol, the Departments of State, Defense,
and Veterans Affairs, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial,
U.S. military installations, national cemeteries, and
other locations across our country. The POW/MIA flag is
a symbol of our Nation's resolve never to forget the
service and great sacrifice of the heroes who have
carried out liberty's urgent and noble mission, even at
the cost of their own freedom. On this day, we express
our deep appreciation to each of our Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen, and Marines and our enduring commitment to
achieve the fullest possible accounting for all of our
men and women in uniform who have been prisoners of war
or are missing in action.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States do hereby proclaim Friday, September 15, 2006,
as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I call upon the
people of the United States to join me in paying solemn
tribute to all former American prisoners of war and
those missing in action who valiantly served our great
country. I call upon Federal, State, and local
government officials and private organizations to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.