If you were a recipient of a
purple heart you can get your plates "FREE" both on renewal or new
plates. You cannot go in and get them at any time...just as a renewal or
new plates.. You must take your DD 214 or DD 215 into the BMV and show
them.... If you want plates that state "VETERAN" on them, you can get
them at 25% off... if you want Personalized that will be more..... if
you want more info go to the Veterans services and get a copy of the new
revised code
History of the POW/MIA flag
Since World War I,
more than 200,000 Americans have been listed as Prisoners of War (POW)
or Missing in Action (MIA). Specifically, during the Vietnam War, more
than 2,500 Americans were captured and listed as MIA. An organization
called the National League of Families was formed shortly after the end
of the Vietnam War. Composed of spouses, children, parents and other
family members of the MIA soldiers, its goal was to remind the nation of
their loved ones plight.
In 1971, Mrs. Michael
Hoff, the wife of a MIA soldier and member of the National League of
Families, felt that there should be a symbol to remind the nation of
these soldiers and the cause to bring them home. Around this time, the
People’s Republic of China had been admitted to the United Nations and a
flag manufacturer called Annin Company had produced a flag for them.
Mrs. Hoff read about this in the Florida-Times Union and felt a
flag would be perfect.
She contacted the
company’s vice president, Norman Rivkee. Rivkee was very receptive to
this idea and quickly turned to one of their advertising agencies to
create a design. Newt Heisley, a military pilot in World War II, worked
at the agency. Heisley took on the project, being as he was a veteran
himself and his oldest son, Jeffrey, had trained for combat in the
Vietnam War. Jeffrey had become very ill while training for combat, and
when he returned home, a once strong man was now gaunt and lifeless.
This image brought to mind what life must have been for those soldiers
captured and encased on foreign soil.
He began to sketch
his son’s gaunt profile, using a black background and a white
silhouette. As he sketched, he added barb wire and a tower in the
distanced, still in the black-and-white color scheme. Under this image,
the words You Are Not Forgotten were boldly added.
This design was one
of many offered, but it was instantly chosen. The flags went into
production so quickly that the sketch was never refined and his initial
drawing is the POW/MIA flag we see today.
The POW/MIA design was never
copyrighted and has been legally ruled as Republic domain. This flag is
the only one, other than the American flag, that has ever flown over the
White House. The POW/MIA flag has been flown on every POW/MIA
Recognition Day, the third Friday of September, since 1982. It also
flies over the nationals capital on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed
Forces Day, Flag Day and Independence
Day.
The flag is flown
daily in the United States Capital Rotunda and all VA medical facilities
are to display the flag on any day that the nationals colors are
displayed. The original creation of the POW/MIA flag was for those
soldiers missing from the Vietnam War, but, over time, it has come to
represent missing men and women from any war.
WHEN ONE AMERICAN IS NOT WORTH THE EFFORT
TO BE FOUND, WE AS AMERICAN’S HAVE LOST.
Did you Know?
Vietnam Veterans Week is Dec
10th thru 14th
(Thanks to
Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, Ca)
You know when WWII ended we
had parades and parties and festivals and welcomed home our soldiers and then
again after desert storm we did it again, and we continue to do it. This is
great and I hope it continues, but there was a time when not all soldiers
volunteered, 66% were drafted for war.
This was VIETNAM. Some did
not want to go, so they fled from our country, while others may not have agreed
with the war, they still went and served our country. Over 30% of the US Veteran
deaths in Vietnam were draftees. Of the remaining Vietnam Veterans that came
home, they were spit on, called names, and told before hand, not to wear their
Uniforms.
I was only 13, and as I
watched on TV, our soldiers treated like this by flower children and college
kids I was so disgusted and upset with our fellow Americans. I may not have been
old enough to speak my mind, but now I am.
I was very proud of them and
wanted to be just like them, I am now currently and proudly serving over 18
years in the military thanks to the Vietnam veterans that I looked up to as my
Super heroes.
But, I am sad to say we are
losing these veterans at an alarming rate from cancer…hmmm?
As I stand out there with
WWII veterans giving military honors to a Vietnam Vet, it hurts me, to know that
they will never know that any American appreciated what they have done and been
through.
POW/MIA National recognition
day still remains to be the third Friday of every September.
During this week, I would
like to see all Vietnam veterans either wear their Uniform or their Vietnam
Ribbon, so that we can salute them, and tell them how much we do care for them.
It’s long and overdue but
ladies and gentleman please join me in welcoming them home, and show them that
there were a lot of us unheard voices that really did appreciate what they have
given up for us, before its too late.
Thanks Vietnam Vets
Bill Michitsch
12/4/2008 | Press
Release
Cook's "Welcome Home Vietnam
Veterans Week" Coming In December
CONTACT:
Sam Cannon
(916) 319-2065 Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca
Valley) is pleased to announce upcoming events to honor the 20th anniversary of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Sacramento. Cook recognized the special
occasion earlier this year by introducing Assembly Concurrent Resolution 151, a
measure that designates December 10th through December 14 th, 2008 as "Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Week." The planned events are sponsored jointly by the
Vietnam Veterans of America and the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Week will commence on December 10th with a reading
of names of the 5,822 Californians lost in the Vietnam War. On December 13th, a
parade and dedication ceremony will take place, followed by a sunrise POW/MIA
ceremony on December 14th.
"As a Vietnam veteran, these events mean a lot to me. That's why I didn't
hesitate to carry ACR 151 on behalf of other veterans out there who are
struggling to come to terms with their mistreatment following the war. To me,
they're all heroes," Cook said.
-
True Story.....
-
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and
is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise
from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they
were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the
back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the
local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at
the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it
must have stung quite a bit.
-
The complaint:
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:
-
Whom do we thank for the morning
air show?
Last Wednesday, at
precisely>9:11 AM, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over
Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet.
Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this
wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early
bird special? Any response would be appreciated.
The response:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets'
On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of
F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the
grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who
was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on
May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered
at Sunland Memorial Park in
Sun City to mourn
the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount
of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the
21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of
Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of
the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who
understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship fly by is a display
of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of
freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on
June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay
their ultimate respects.
-
The letter writer asks, 'Whom do
we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call
for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques,
and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the
most honorable formation of their lives.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and
the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF
