Members of local veteran organizations raised a POW-MIA flag during a ceremony at Fleetwood Area High School Nov. 13.
All buildings in the district now fly the POW-MIA flag along along with the U.S. flag.
This collaboration between the district and the Berks County Chapter 131 Vietnam Veterans honors the memories of service members who have not yet returned home.
“Our warriors are not forgotten,” Rep. David Maloney said. “These individuals gave up their tomorrow for us to have today.”
While Maloney sponsored the law requiring Pennsylvania state buildings and property that fly the U.S. flag to also display the POW-MIA flag, schools are not required to do this.
Maloney said the veterans group approached the district about flying the POW-MIA flag along with the American flag, and officials agreed. He provided the flags that now fly at all Fleetwood schools.
Other Berks County school districts that joined the POW-MIA flag effort include Brandywine Heights, Boyertown and Oley Valley.
Fleetwood Area School District hosted a POW-MIA Flag Raising Ceremony at Fleetwood Area High School on Nov. 13. All buildings in the district now fly the POW-MIA flag along with the U.S. flag. (Photos by Fleetwood students Teagan Hilburt and Sarah Snyder)
A POW-MIA flag was raised during a Nov. 13 ceremony at Fleetwood Area High School. (Photos by Fleetwood students Teagan Hilburt and Sarah Snyder)
During the ceremony, Fleetwood American Legion Post 625 provided the Presentation of Colors and raised the flag. Fleetwood junior Sophie Esterly sang the national anthem. The Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence were lead by Fleetwood student Olivia Walker. Fleetwood student Noah Orth provided the sounding of taps.
Fleetwood Superintendent Greg Miller said the presence of the veterans, local legislators, community leaders, district administration, students, families and friends at the ceremony reflects a shared commitment to remember those who sacrificed for our freedom and to remember those who never returned.
“Never stop searching, never stop hoping and never stop honoring their service,” Miller said. “Here in Berks County, we carry that promise close to heart.”
While recognizing the POW-MIA flag, Sen. Judy Schwank said we should never overlook what the flag represents.
“It’s a symbol of bravery in the face of uncertainty and a reminder of the risks our armed service members take, fighting for our freedom, wherever it may be,” she said.
The history of this flag dates back to 1972 when the U.S. took steps to officially recognize it, according to Schwank.
“At the time, the United States was embroiled in the conflict in Vietnam and there were only rough, inaccurate estimates of the total number of U.S. service members missing in action,” she said.
Searches for U.S. service members continued for many years following the end of the Vietnam War, she said.
“To this day, despite all of the advances we’ve made in helping to find remains and identify them through scientific advances, roughly 1,500 remain unaccounted for,” said Schwank.
This flag is not just about one war, she continued, “though a special tribute goes to the Vietnam veterans who have made this their personal mission to make sure that we recognize and understand and remember.”
The flag stands for every American service member taken prisoner or missing in action in every conflict, past and present, she said.
“Today, it is important that we pay tribute to those we’ve lost and those who have not yet come home,” Schwank said.
Fleetwood American Legion Post 625 Commander Paul Purcell spoke of pausing to remember the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call to serve and who have not yet returned home.
“This flag is more than a symbol. It is a promise,” Purcell said. “It stands as a powerful reminder of the courage, the sacrifice and our nation’s unwavering commitment to bring them home.”
Flying the POW-MIA flag reaffirms a sacred promise: America will never forget our prisoners of war and those missing in action, he said.
“It reminds us that freedom has a price and the families of the missing still wait, still hope and still deserve our support,” Purcell continued. “As this flag takes its place beside our nation’s colors, let us renew our pledge to remember, to honor and never stop searching until every one of our heroes is accounted for.”
Vietnam veteran John Henschel, a member of American Legion Post 878 from Oley and of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 131, said the numbers are staggering when considering the lives that have been lost preserving the rights and freedoms we enjoy in this country, as well as those fighting for those same rights and freedoms.
“Their sacrifice and loss should never be forgotten and always be honored,” he said.
Henschel spoke about three Berks men who remain missing in action from the Vietnam War: Capt. David E. Pannabecker from Womelsdorf went missing on March 27, 1972; Col. Thomas W. Dugan from Reading went missing on Dec. 13, 1968; and Lt. Col. Ralph H. Angstadt from Oley and Fleetwood went missing on Oct. 18, 1966.
“As you go about your busy day and you enjoy life and all the good things that go with it, take a little time to think about these exceptional, brave American servicemen that gave it all for the freedoms we enjoy,” Henschel said.
Cliff Kerchner of the Berks Vietnam Veterans of America chapter presented POW-MIA flags in remembrance of the more than 80,000 men and women who are missing from all wars.
“Today we gather in solemn respect and unwavering commitment to honor those who served and never returned, our prisoners of war and those missing in action,” he said.
On Nov. 11, Kerchner received the Brandywine Heights Area School District’s Patriot Award in honor of his exceptional dedication to country and community.
In her closing remarks at the Fleetwood POW-MIA Flag Raising Ceremony, Fleetwood School Board Director Elizabeth Hersh said: “Let us remember that the flag that we raised here today is more than a piece of fabric.” (Photos by Fleetwood students Teagan Hilburt and Sarah Snyder)
In her closing remarks, Fleetwood School Director Elizabeth Hersh said: “Let us remember that the flag that we raised here today is more than a piece of fabric. It is a reminder of courage, sacrifice and the unbreakable promise that we will never forget those who sacrificed and served our nation and did not return home.
“Today, we came together as a community and a school to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”