NC Department of POW/MIA Affiars Press Release 03-09-01

NC Department of POW/MIA Affairs - Fayetteville, NC, USA

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF POW/MIA AFFAIRS
"Remembering Those Others Have Forgotten"
www.standingwatch.blogspot.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 MARCH 2009
NO. 03-09-01

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – The following has been announced by the House Armed Services Committee:

The Military Personnel Subcommittee will meet to receive testimony on improving recovery and full accounting of POW/MIA personnel from all past conflicts.

Witness schedule:

Panel 1

Mr. Michael H. Wysong
Director of National Security and Foreign Affairs
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Mr. Philip D. Riley
Director
National Security and Foreign Relations
The American Legion

Ms. Ann Mills-Griffiths
Executive Director
National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia

Ms. Lisa Phillips
President
WWII Families for the Return of the Missing

Ms. Lynn O’Shea
Director of Research
National Alliance of Families

Mr. Frank Metersky
Washington Liaison
Korea/Cold Families of the Missing

Ms. Robin Picine
President
Coalition of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIAs

Mr. Ron Broward
POW/MIA Advocate

Panel 2

The Honorable Charles A. Ray
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs
U.S. Department of Defense

Rear Admiral Donna L. Crisp, USN
Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
U.S. Department of Defense

Testimony is scheduled to take place on 2 APRIL 2009 at 2:00 PM in the House Rayburn Building, Room 2212.

Mike Surles, Director of the North Carolina Department of POW/MIA Affairs, will be in attendance.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity of hearing this testimony. It should provide valuable information on the internal structure, resources and personnel, budget, command and control of our efforts to release, recover, and repatriate our POW/MIAs. During these economic challenging times for our country, America must not forget the sacred promise made to each man and women who has and is wearing the uniform of the United States and their families; to never leave anyone behind." Surles said.

Surles also stated that the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia will return a delegation from Southeast Asia on 1 APRIL 2009. The three member delegation comprised of Ann Mills-Griffiths, Executive Director, Richard Childress, Senior Policy Advisor, and Mark Stephensen, Vice Chairman of the Board departed on 15 MARCH 2009 and has been meeting with senior officials from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

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