[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY IN LOUISIANA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN COOKSEY

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. COOKSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the proclamation 
of Governor Mike Foster declaring September 18 as ``POW/MIA Recognition 
Day'' in Louisiana.
  I served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and I know very well 
that far too many of our brave soldiers did not return from this war. 
We owe those who have served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice 
an undying debt. While this debt is impossible to repay, we can begin 
by giving all the families the peace of mind that has been missing 
along with their loved ones and provide them the fullest possible 
accounting for those still missing.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the text of the proclamation for printing in 
the Record.

                    State of Louisiana Proclamation

       Whereas, 2,086 Americans are still missing and unaccounted 
     for from the Vietnam War, including 26 from the state of 
     Louisiana, and their families, friends and fellow veterans 
     still endure uncertainty concerning their fate; and
       Whereas, U.S. Government intelligence and other evidence 
     confirm that Vietnam could unilaterally account for hundreds 
     of missing Americans, including many of the 446 still missing 
     in Laos and the 75 still unaccounted for in Cambodia, by 
     locating and returning identifiable remains and providing 
     archival records to answer other discrepancies; and
       Whereas, the President has normalized relations with 
     Vietnam, believing such action would generate increased 
     unilateral accounting for Americans still missing from the 
     Vietnam War, and such increased results have yet been 
     provided by the government of Vietnam; and
       Whereas, the state of Louisiana calls on the President to 
     reinvigorate U.S. efforts to press Vietnam for unilateral 
     actions to locate and return to our nation remains that would 
     account for hundreds of America's POW/MIAs and records to 
     help obtain answers on many more.
       Now, therefore, I, M.J. ``Mike'' Foster, Jr., Governor of 
     the state of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim September 18, 
     1998, as ``POW/MIA Recognition Day'' in the state of 
     Louisiana, in honor of all American POW/MIAs, in particular 
     the 26 from Louisiana, and encourage all citizens to observe 
     this day with appropriate ceremonies.

     

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