Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas There are nearly 88,000 Americans still missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the 1991 Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and their families, friends and other concerned Americans still must deal with uncertainty concerning their fate; and
Whereas Currently, there are thirty-nine servicemen from Massachusetts who are still considered missing in action; and
Whereas The Commonwealth of Massachusetts commends and endorses the national commitment to account as fully as possible for Americans still missing from our nation’s wars; and
Whereas The Commonwealth of Massachusetts calls on the President and Congress to continue to raise the need for increased action with foreign counterparts to help account for our missing, alive and dead, and return them to the United States; and
Whereas It is appropriate that all Massachusetts citizens remember the bravery of those who have served our country. Their selfless dedication to defend our safety should never be forgotten,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim September 16th, 20011 to be,
POW/MIA Recognition Day
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this nineteenth day of April, in the year two thousand and eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts