Elbe Day, April 25, 1945, is the day Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River, near Torgau in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact between the Soviets, advancing from the East, and the Americans, advancing from the West, meant that the two powers had effectively cut Germany in two.
The wreath-laying ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery with Ambassador of the Russion Federation, Anatoly Antonov and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Thomas Shannon, Jr. speaking.  .  

The trip was very productive and SOA/SFA's parallel effort demonstrated to all the real partnership that now exists between SOA, SFA and the League, a strong combination that impacted those with whom we met, especially in Vietnam, but also in Laos.
 
The death rate for MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Special Operations Group) personnel during the Vietnam War was over 100%, nearly all MIA or KIA/BNR in Vietnamese controlled border areas of Laos and Cambodia.  The vast majority of SOA/SFA losses are in Laos, and include USAF, USMC and USN aircrew members flying in support of MACV-SOG missions, including Bright Light recovery efforts.

We all are most grateful that SOA and SFA are working so constructively to accomplish our shared mission. Like the League, SOA and SFA support recovery and individual ID's on WWII and Korean War personnel, but NOT at the expense of focused priority on achieving the fullest possible accounting for Vietnam War missing.


League Chairman, Ann Mills-Griffiths
 

The 21st Plenum of the US Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs was held November 7 - 9th, 2017 in Moscow. As invited observers, Ann Mills- Griffiths, Chairman of the Board, National League of POW/MIA Families and Bob Wallace, Executive Director, VFW, were in attendance at the meetings as well as participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Federal Memorial Military Cemetery.  They were also taken on tours of the Anti-aircraft Museum and Patriot Park, as well as attending a reconstruction of the historic Red Square Military Parade of November 7, 1941.

Pictured below are Bob Wallace, General Valery Vostrotin, General Robert "Doc" Foglesong (Ret), Ann Mills- Griffiths, and the Russian Honor Guard.
The delegates and attendees were also invited to tour the Russian Air Defense Museum.  Pictured below is the Vietnam War display and a Russian anti-aircraft gun.

HQ Resolute Support in Kabul, Afghanistan held a 24 Hour POW/MIA Remembrance Run/Walk for Recognition Day September 15 -16, 2017. The event included all American and Coalition Forces (NATO Nations/NATO Partners. They presented the League a Certificate of Appreciation and included t-shirts from the run .  Pictured below are Amanda Kingery, League intern and Nicholas DiSano, League archival assistant,  holding the certificate and modeling the shirts, which have all the flags of NATO on the back and the logo below on the front.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day was September 15th, 2017.  Countless events and ceremonies took place nationally and abroad.  To see more stories and pictures, please go to our Facebook news-feed.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR BLEVINS AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY FOR SENATE BILL 122, AUTHORIZING CHILDREN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE KY GOLD STAR LICENSE PLATE.  THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POW/MIA FAMILIES BOARD MEMBER AND KY STATE COORDINATOR.

THE POCATELLO POW*MIA AWARENESS ASSOCIATION HELD THE 17TH ANNUAL AWARENESS RALLY & MOTORCYCLE RODEO, JULY 28 & 29, 2017 AT SANDY DOWNS ARENA IN IDAHO FALLS, ID

The tradition continued including the Motorcycle Rodeo, live music, vendors, tribute ceremony, food, entertainment and much more.  The Association is dedicated to the financial support & public awareness of the Prisoners of War and Missing In Action (POW*MIA) issue, the Veterans Home in Pocatello, ID and charities in the local communities.

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL CANDLELIGHT REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY