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Testimony Summary

Before the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services
Subcommittee on Military Personnel Regarding Improving Recovery and Full Accounting of POW/MIA Personnel from all Past Conflicts

April 2, 2009

Good afternoon Madam Chair, Ranking Member Wilson, and distinguished Members of the Military Subcommittee on Personnel, Committee on Armed Services. Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) appreciates the opportunity to present our views for the Record on improving recovery and full accounting of POW/MIA personnel from all past conflicts.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) has worked toward resolution of the POW/MIA issue for more than 30 years -- since our founding in 1978 -- aiming for the fullest possible accounting of all POW/MIAs. In fact, as we note every year in our annual testimony before the joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, the fullest humanly possible resolution of the fate of our POW/MIAs continues to be the highest priority of our organization. VVA pursues that priority by advocating for and monitoring government-to-government efforts, raising public awareness, and calling upon private persons and groups to come forward with any information they had that might shed light upon individual cases.

VVA has a national POW/MIA Affairs Committee required by its constitution, as well as active state and chapter committees. These committees are the core of an integrated effort that has put POW/MIA flags above public buildings across America, has shared information with every other POW/MIA organization in the country, has let members of Congress and the President know that this priority is strong and alive. Our regular national publication, The VVA Veteran, updates all VVA members on POW/MIA issues.

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