Update on the League’s Archival Research Committee for the 51st Annual Meeting by ARC Team Lead Jay Veith September 15, 2021 veith_presentation_sept_2021.pdf
9-9-2021 LEAGUE 51ST ANNUAL MEETING/USG BRIEFINGS RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2021: On September 6, 2021, the League and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) reached agreement on holding two days of virtual/live-streaming/in-person sessions. This was accomplished with significant effort and much compromise by all involved, and determined by the League Board of Directors and DPAA leadership to be the best possible solution in our current pandemic-restricted environment.
The Opening Session will be from 9:00 a.m. to noon, on Wednesday, September 15th. It will be League-chaired and include guest speakers and reports of specific interest. Presentation of League Distinguished Service Awards will conclude the League’s portion of the September 15th program. DPAA will host the second half of Opening Session from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., starting with welcoming remarks from DPAA Director Kelly McKeague. Several specialists will address diverse projects and scientific aspects of the mission that impact achieving Vietnam War accounting results, closing with a moderated Q&A session.
DPAA will also host the General Session on Thursday, September 16th, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. DPAA Director McKeague will lead off the session, followed by DIA Director Lieutenant General Scott Barrier, USA, then DPAA Deputy Director for Operations (DDO) Rear Admiral Darius Banaji, USN. DPAA Indo-Pacific Regional Director Col Matt Brannen, USMC, and DIA Stony Beach Program Director Brad Taylor will lead into country-specific presentations from six DPAA and Stony Beach speciali5ts working in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. This session will also conclude with a DPAA-moderated Q&A Session.
The closing League General Session will be 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., during which the newly elected 2021-2023 League Board of Directors will be introduced. The virtual audience of family members, veterans and other interested Americans will then have an opportunity to raise questions and issues for later consideration by the 2021-23 Board. On Friday September 17th , at 10:00 a.m., the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony will be held at the Pentagon, COVID restrictions permitting.