Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Chapter NC 5 from neighboring Jacksonville will be rolling into the city of Kinston on Saturday, June 10th to commemorate Flag Day. Hosted by SALUTE-GI JOES, the members of Rolling Thunder® Chapter NC 5 will hold a flag raising ceremony at the “Walk of Honor Memorial” in Kinston’s Tiffany Park at 12noon. During the ceremony RTNC 5 will present and raise a National Flag and a POW/MIA flag to celebrate National Flag Day which is on the 14th of June.

The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize the POW-MIA issue: To educate the public that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future Veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War-Missing in Action. We are also committed to helping American Veterans from all wars.

Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a non-profit organization, and everyone donates his or her time because they believe in the POW/MIA Issue.

HISTORY OF THE POW/MIA FLAG

 In 1970, Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of POW/MIA Families, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs.  Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida, Times-Union, Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President of Annin & Company, which had made a banner for the newest member of the United Nations, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as part of their policy to provide flags of all United Nations member states.  Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue.  He and an Annin advertising agency employee, Newt Heisley, designed a flag to represent our missing men. 

Following approval by the League’s Board of Directors at a meeting held January 22-23, 1972, POW/MIA flags were manufactured for distribution.  Wanting the widest possible dissemination and use of this symbol to advocate for improved treatment for and answers on American POW/MIAs, no trademark or copyright was sought.  As a result, widespread use of the League’s POW/MIA flag is not restricted legally.  The large volume of commercial production and sales now required to meet demands of federal and state laws does not benefit the League financially, though Annin & Company did contribute a modest amount on one occasion.     

 On March 9, 1989, an official League flag – flown over the White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day 1988 – was installed in the US Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis during the 100th Congress.  In a demonstration of further bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony, at which League Executive Director Ann Mills-Griffiths delivered remarks representing the POW/MIA families. For the complete history and to learn more please visit the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISONERS AND MISSING IN S E ASIA website at, https://www.pow-miafamilies.org/history-of-the-powmia-flag.html