VINCE DARCANGELO, DAV'S NATIONAL POW/MIA CHAIRMAN, ON A TRIP THROUGH BANGOR, MAINE TOOK THESE PHOTOS OF A MISSING MAN CHAIR DISPLAY THAT THE BANGOR AMERICAN LEGION POST INSTALLED AT THE BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

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​17th Annual POW*MIA Awareness Rally and Motorcycle Rodeo        
 
The 17th Annual POW*MIA Motorcycle Drags & Rodeo will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at Sandy Downs Arena in Idaho Falls, ID beginning immediately following our “Tribute Ceremony”.  This rodeo is sponsored by Safe Haven Healthcare headquartered in Pocatello. 
 
The Motorcycle Rodeo is much like the livestock rodeos we are all familiar with, however, all events are competed in using motorcycles. We call them our “Iron Horses”.  The events are held in a two part format, with the first being the solo rides.  The solo events are the Slow Race, Keg Push and the Barrel (Clover Leaf) race.  The second part of the rodeo will be two up on a bike and competing in, the Give & Take, Weenie Bite, and the Balloon Toss.  Come on, grab a partner and join the fun!!  Prize purse of $2,000 cash will be awarded.  All competitors are talented athletes on two wheels.
 
Half time entertainment of the 17th Annual Motorcycle Rodeo will be our Kids’ Bicycle Rodeo.   
 
Sign up forms and Rules and Regulations to enter the Motorcycle Rodeo and Motorcycle Bike Drags can be found at the POW*MIA Awareness Rally Corp. web site www.powmiarodeo.org.  Entry fee for the rodeo is $20 per bike and for the Bike Drags it is $10 per bike.
 
Whether you are a participant or a spectator, you are guaranteed a good time!!!

RECOGNITION DAY 2017
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Join us in Clarksville, Tennessee, from September 13 - 16, 2017, to celebrate the service and sacrifice of veterans from across the years, miles and conflicts. This is a time of reflection, remembrance and reunion. League Board member Cindy Stonebraker will be the Key Note speaker at the Remembrance Ceremony.
https://www.welcomehomeveteranscelebration.com/

Lance Sijan Memorial Dedication May 26th, 2017
10:45AM (Motorcycle Parade 9:45AM) 
Announcing the dedication a one acre memorial park (8 years in the making) in memory of Lance Sijan, USAF (MOH), including an F-4 raised on a pedestal, at the entrance to Milwaukee International Airport.
Lance has become an icon of the Air Force. His story is told to all new Air Force officers as part of their schooling, by way of their study of the officers training manual, because of Lance’s strict obedience to the American Fighting Man's Code of Conduct. The US Air Force Academy has named an entire building after him, titled Sijan Hall. There is also a memorial statue located on the Academy grounds in honor of Lance.
http://www.lancesijan.com/ph…/operation-phantom-jet-gallery/

JOLLY and ADMAN (Vietnam War Search & Recovery call signs) continue to protect our Service Members abroad.
An Expeditionary Rescue Group supporting operations in Syria and Iraq, located in Turkey honors the history of our POW/MIAs from previous wars and our commitment to recover US and coalition forces anytime, anywhere. That Others May Live.

​CECIL FIELD POW MIA MEMORIAL

​​    March 9, 2017 
 
Dear Families of POW/MIA, 
 
A couple of years ago, we came upon the POW/MIA Memorial at former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. Many are even unaware of the existence of this Memorial. It was later learned that the master plan for Cecil Commerce Center would include developing on and around some of the Memorial areas.  
We believe these areas should be preserved and properly taken care of to continue honoring these brave men. Thus, we formed “Cecil Field POW/MIA Memorial, Inc.”, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Our mission is to protect, preserve, educate and inspire.  
We have been working directly with the City of Jacksonville and Mayor Lenny Curry’s office to acquire 30 acres on a long-term land lease. The lease includes the Hero’s Walk/Freedom Trees, Chapel, Memorial Park, and the necessary acreage for a future development of the POW/MIA Memorial Center. We presented our vision of the site, and there is now legislation written waiting for a vote by City Council members. We feel very optimistic we’ll successfully gain the necessary votes to make it official. In fact, we have an endorsement from U.S. Senator John McCain. He very graciously and very quickly signed a letter supporting our efforts. We anticipate many more.         
At this time, we feel it’s important to notify all families of our mission and solicit any information you are willing to provide to us. We are looking for the history of their naval career, life and family. We are also in need of any information you may have on the original Memorial: dedications, services, artist/designer, etc. Our number one goal is to ensure these brave men are truly NEVER FORGOTTEN! We are going to educate the community and all that visit the Memorial so they will know who these men were and the sacrifices they made in service to our country.  
We have a huge vision for this site and welcome any comments and/or concerns you may have regarding our efforts. In fact, we ask for this, and please feel free to contact me directly by phone or email, both listed below. When you respond, please inform us if you would like for us to send you information on our plans and vision for this POW/MIA memorial area.  
 
Sincerely, M. Cassata 
 
Mike Cassata President Cell (904) 813-8162 Email: cecilfieldpowmia@gmail.com Facebook: Cecil Field POW MIA Memorial 

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” will host the 15th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Alexandria on Friday, 11 November 2016 at 1:00 PM.  The approximately 1-hour indoor Ceremony will honor POW/MIA and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient CPT HR “Rocky” Versace, MIAs SSG Douglas Blodgett, Maj Joseph Davies, Maj Morgan Donahue, 1LT Leland McCants, Seaman Apprentice John Winkler, the 60 other Alexandrians who died during the Vietnam War, all our POW/MIAs as well as all Veterans in attendance.

Location is indoors at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in the City of Alexandria, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. (intersection of Commonwealth and Mt Vernon Aves.).

Website:    http://www.virginia.org/Listings/Events/VeteransDayCeremonyAlexandria/

​LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville and adidas today unveiled the ‘Young Patriot’ pack, featuring the Primeknit alternate football uniform and the adizero 5-Star 6.0 x KEVLAR® and FREAK x KEVLAR® cleats. The special edition pack pays homage to the nation’s active duty members and veterans, while creating a bold alternate look for the Cardinals for their game against Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
The game serves as Louisville’s annual Military Appreciation Game salute to honor those who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces.  Over 1,500 tickets have been generously donated by BAE Systems of Louisville and Humana to distribute to active duty soldiers, Veterans, and their families.

During the game, Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will dedicate an unoccupied chair that is to remain perpetually empty. The Chair of Honor will pay tribute to the more than 91,000 service members who are POW and MIA since World War I – including current POWs.

The Chair of Honor, which will be permanently installed on the east terrace, will be accompanied by a plaque that reads: “This unoccupied chair honors those who are Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) and symbolizes there will always be a place in this stadium awaiting their return. You will never be forgotten. Dedicated November 2016 by the University of Louisville Cardinals.”

The 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015 Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Fighter Pilot Award winners received engraved knives from Shine’s family during a ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Aug. 11, 2016. Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, left, the Air Combat Command Headquarters director of operations, presented the winners their awards with the Shine family. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. R. Alex Durbin)

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) — Pilots from across the Air Force gathered for the 2015 Lt. Col. Anthony C. Shine Fighter Pilot Award ceremony here Aug. 11.The award is presented annually to recognize an exceptional Air Force fighter pilot who has proven excellence and professionalism in flight, as well as dedication to community service.“These pilots continue to be men who serve for more than themselves,” said Colleen Shine, daughter of Lt. Col. Shine, the award’s namesake. “They have devoted hours to their community and to the communities where they were deployed.”Colleen’s mother established the award when her husband, an A-7 Corsair II pilot, did not return home from the Vietnam War. Colonel Shine was missing in action for 24 years, and in 1996 his remains were repatriated and honored with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Colleen continues to raise awareness for those who are prisoners of war or MIA, by focusing attention on the plight of America’s prisoners and missing not only in Vietnam but also from World War II and the Korean War. The prestigious award continues to honor her father’s legacy while bringing awareness to his fate.