...for as long as it takes
Denton, Texas
sent in by Cindy Koiner
On April 20th, I will speak in front of the City Council and accept a Proclamation given by the Mayor, to dedicate a "POW-MIA Awareness Week" here in Denton, Texas. I've called all the recruiters, ROTC groups and VFW groups in the city and they plan to attend (some in uniform) for support.
The newspaper, and perhaps the TV stations will cover the story and more people will become aware of the issue. I am currently trying to compile the stats of how many have served and how many have not returned, etc., for the wording on the proclamation.
Does anyone out there know of another city that has done this? Or is there someone out there that can help with suggestions on the wording (the "therefors and whereas's") I would appreciate any guidance that you could give.
After we do this I will send all info to the lists and then those of you that want to do this in your city will have something to use as a guideline. I'm just so pleased that it is scheduled and everything is going well for it! This is just a start, but with everything....you have to take one step at a time and this journey has just begun.
Thanks,
Cindy Lou' in Texas
Hello All,
Thank you so much for the energies and helpful ideas. It is over and done! The Proclamation has been made! We had about 10 Jr. ROTC cadets from one of the local High Schools show up, but no one else (in uniform).
And I had a guest show up that made the event special. He was a former POW from the Korean War. Bless his heart!!!
When I was handed the microphone, I said "I wanted to Thank the Ryan High School JRotc" (they stood behind me) and I looked at the audience and said "I also want to thank the former POW that is in our midst, that I think wants to remain anonymous. I Want to thank him and the others for their service to our country."
I then turned to the JROTC and saw their little faces (high school kids) and said to the audience and cameras, "These are our future soldiers, please DON'T turn your backs on them when we send them to fight for our Country on foreign soil, like our Government has on the others" and at that point, the audience was quiet! Then I shook hands with the Mayor and said "Thank You Mayor" and went back up and sat down.
Then one of the Councilmen asked if he could say something and asked if the former POW would like to come up and speak, and he declined, so they asked if he would stand and he did. The City Council and most of the audience gave him a standing ovation!!! It was so cool!!!!!!!
I have goose bumps again, just thinking about it and am starting to tear up again. This was one of the coolest things that I have ever been apart of and I was able to have representatives from our future and our past to share it with.
After talking with the former POW (Mr. Burlage) I gave him the extra
copy
of the Proclamation and said "this is for you and the others, Thank you
for
your service to our country!" And then I gave him a hug! He also asked me where he could get a replacement for his worn out
POW-MIA
flag and I told him. It seems that he isn't a member of the local VFW
Club
(yet) and is wanting to join. I told him that I was about to join also
and
that we could sit together when there and get to know the group
together. He
smiled and said that it would be great.
The day was traumatic (to say the least) when everything looked like it
wasn't going to happen, and with the local Military representatives not
coming (as they said they would) and the recruiters and such not showing
up....but the smile on the former POW's face when I gave him the
proclamation, made it all worthwhile.
That's what it's all about. Let me lose my disability payments (for
digging
into something the Government wants let alone).....
Let them (TRY) to screw me out of being able to drive again (a new
incident
that I've not told the list about) and let them "stamp my meal card, no
dessert" (a saying we had in the Military)..........
BUT They're NOT going to shut me up! And I DID have my 10 mins.
of say in front of the citizens of Denton, County and was able to put a
smile
and give a hug to a former POW!
Life can't get much more satisfying than that!!!!
I started to tear up, when the Mayor started reading the numbers of the
missing
and POW's. It hadn't really hit me with the realization of the total
numbers
(although I've seen them and typed them numerous times)...
It's just different when you hear it from someone on a PA speaker.
But it's over...and now I will be networking the schools with the local
POW-MIA groups to get their packets of information and flags to the
schools.
All in all, it was a great experience, along with an honor and pleasure
to
have done it!
Now, As Beverly said, If only one person from each state would follow
suit in
their Cities, it would help a great deal!
Any takers? I've done the hard part....I wrote the Proclamation, all you
have
to do is copy the wording and insert your Cities names etc....and you
can do
the same.
Make that phone call, call the City Secretary today and ask what you
have to
do to get a Proclamation for your City. That's the hardest part. But you
can
dial the numbers in honor of those that would love the privilege of
being
here and being able to dial a phone themselves. Do it for the 90,000
(plus)
lost heroes.
Come on, what are you waiting for?
Denton Texas, POW-MIA Awareness month, May 1999
I like the sound of that!
