A bipartisan group of senators is hoping to return the POW-MIA flag to its position atop the White House after it was removed last year.
Sens. Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat, Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, collectively wrote to President Biden to demand the restoration of the tribute to prisoners of war and service members missing in action.
“We write to request that you restore the POW/MIA flag to its rightful place atop the White House,” they wrote. “We ask you to ensure that the White House displays the POW/MIA flag in accordance with federal law to appropriately honor all American prisoners of war and missing service members.”
The trio of senators noted that President Donald Trump’s decision to relocate the flag to a memorial elsewhere on the White House grounds does not preclude the hoisting of an additional flag atop the flagpole.
“The welcome addition of such a memorial does not prevent any administration from also flying the POW/MIA flag with the American flag atop the White House, in the spirit of the National POW/MIA Flag Act,” they wrote.
The federal law in question, signed by Trump, mandates that the flag be flown in a “manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.” Its current position, to which it was moved in celebration of Memorial Day, allows for limited viewing from the public.
The senators’ letter was celebrated by veterans support groups that feel that the flag must be properly displayed in order to honor those imprisoned during warfare.
“The National League of POW/MIA Families deeply appreciates the bipartisan support that Senators Hassan, Warren and Cotton have again demonstrated by asking President Biden to restore our POW/MIA flag to its intended place atop the White House,” said Ann Mills-Griffiths, chairwoman of the board and CEO of the National League of POW/MIA Families. “Nationally and internally, the POW/MIA flag reflects our nation’s determination to account as fully as possible for those lost in combat during past wars and conflicts.”
Rolling Thunder, an advocacy group seeking to bring accountability for POW and MIA service members, also applauded the lawmakers’ efforts.
“Rolling Thunder Inc. members throughout the country appreciate the bipartisan support of Senators Warren and Cotton for introducing this legislation and Senator Hassan as co-sponsor for this legislation, and continuing to advocate for the return of the POW/MIA Flag atop the White House,” said Artie Muller, the founder and national director of Rolling Thunder.
Hassan and Warren previously criticized the Trump administration’s decision to relocate the flag. They were joined by at least some veterans groups, with the American Ex-Prisoners of War calling the move a “slap in the face” to POW and MIA service members.
