Federal buildings and POW/MIA flag

[Nice Guy Eddie 13412]

I don't have a problem with it but can anyone explain the purpose on why many federal buildings, including post offices now fly the POW/MIA flag underneath the US flag every day now? From what I can tell this started late last year according to some online searches.  It's extremely important that we always remember those that died in service of our country but is that now the de facto second national flag?

[Llano Estacado 1257]

Post offices are required daily as of end of last year.

Believe military installations were already required and any place the Sec of State is present.

Effective November 7, 2019, an amendment to 36 U.S.C. § 902 requires Post Offices to fly the Prisoner of War (POW)-Missing In Action (MIA) flag on the same days that the United States flag is flown.

Other govt buildings remain the normal 7/4, flag day, Memorial Day, etc.

[Asithappens 974]

18 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I don't have a problem with it but can anyone explain the purpose on why many federal buildings, including post offices now fly the POW/MIA flag underneath the US flag every day now? From what I can tell this started late last year according to some online searches.  It's extremely important that we always remember those that died in service of our country but is that now the de facto second national flag?

It shouldn't be (the de facto second national flag), imo. 

At heart it's just a crass political move, like wearing a US flag lapel pin. We get it: you're a real patriot.  

[Pescado_Rojo 19331]

yea, I think it's more virtue signaling than anything. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13412]

The Bureau of Nice but Unnecessary Patriotic Acts will never run out of ideas. Why not a KIA flag underneath the POW/MIA flag as well? 

And now what politician is going to go on record of saying that we should not require the flag to be at every post office, every day. 

[Guest Lobo]

But it is still an official government organization though isn’t it?  My uncle was involved with it for many years after Vietnam and he described it as being like Amtrak.  It excepted outside dollars but was really funded internally by the feds.  And the idea was that the flag was sort of a catchall for the five military branches as well as Myriad  veterans groups.  

[Nice Guy Eddie 13412]

15 minutes ago, Lobo said:

But it is still an official government organization though isn’t it?  My uncle was involved with it for many years after Vietnam and he described it as being like Amtrak.  It excepted outside dollars but was really funded internally by the feds.  And the idea was that the flag was sort of a catchall for the five military branches as well as Myriad  veterans groups.  

I always thought the group continued to exist on the hope that POWs still were in Vietnam long after the war, and that the MIAs were actually living POWs. I can't imagine the pain for families to not know anything and cling onto some hope.  Rambo aside, I don't think there was ever any POWs discovered after the final prisoner exchanges at the war's end.

I assumed it was a private organization and not the US govt even though the govt may help them. I know the military continues to work on identifying any remains discovered from any war.

EDIT: There is a military dept with the task of returning POWs and MIAs: https://www.dpaa.mil/

The private, non-profit group: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_League_of_POW/MIA_Families https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/

Edited June 11, 2020 by Nice Guy Eddie

[Ghost of LL 15492]

I've just kind of regarded it (rightly or wrongly) as some sort of Boomer holdover.  I mean, Vietnam was the last war in which we really had any people go missing or taken prisoner.

I suspect that you'll see less and less of that flag as the Boomers die out.

[David Dennison 18656]

Boomers: Lost Vietnam

Millenials: Lost Iraq 2.0 and Afghanistan

Gen X: Undefeated

[TwiceHorn 31273]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

The Bureau of Nice but Unnecessary Patriotic Acts will never run out of ideas. Why not a KIA flag underneath the POW/MIA flag as well? 

And now what politician is going to go on record of saying that we should not require the flag to be at every post office, every day. 

Diana Moon Glampers head that up, too?

[Parliament 14135]

Boomers: Lost Vietnam
Millenials: Lost Iraq 2.0 and Afghanistan
Gen X: Undefeated

Blackhawk Down, Bruh.

[formermav43 4599]

6 hours ago, David Dennison said:

Boomers: Lost Vietnam

Millenials: Lost Iraq 2.0 and Afghanistan

Gen X: Undefeated

The oldest Millennials were 19 in 2001.

[ROFL BOX 6647]

My only contribution is when my now 13 year old boy was around 5 or 6, he saw the flag & asked me "What does "powmia" (powmee-uh, all one word) mean?".

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[Grade of D as in David 13253]

I'm surprised it hasn't been banned from display at the post office yet.

Trump's hatred of the post office and his affinity for soldiers that don't get captured should make this a no brainier for the maga crowd.

[HenryJames 65890]

I’ve had plenty of mail go missing.

[ROFL BOX 6647]

4 hours ago, HenryJames said:

I’ve had plenty of mail go missing.

If your dog has an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, the letter carrier has been leaving the package on the doorstep.