Saturday
May 18, 2024 
Alan J. Micklin is a man on a mission, or, as he calls it, a “quest.” The Vietnam War veteran is deeply committed to seeing the POW-MIA flag flown below every American flag in the country.
“As Americans we are good at celebrating many things. We have a flag for every sports team, organization and group, but fail to fly the flag to honor my brothers and sisters who never returned home from all wars,” said Micklin, in an interview.
In 1967 and 1968, Micklin served with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in special operations in Vietnam, where he lost many friends.
Now 82, the Bensalem man is quick to stress, “It’s not about me, it’s about my quest. Every American flag in the U.S. should have a POW flag below it.”
As of May 22, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 81,000 soldiers are still missing from their service in WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War and other conflicts, Micklin said.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Walter H. Sigafoos III, of Richboro, is reportedly the sole Bucks County soldier who remains missing in action from the Vietnam War.
The veteran certainly has the law on his side. On Aug. 10, 1990, Congress passed a law calling for the POW-MIA flag to be flown under the American flag at all federal buildings, national parks, military cemeteries and other federal properties. Oftentimes, Micklin said, it is not.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter declared the third Friday in September “POW-MIA Recognition Day.” This year, that falls on Sept. 15.
“I can’t believe how oblivious people are to this issue,” said Micklin. “As a veteran, I take this personally. This flag represents our military brothers and sisters who, to this day, have not been accounted for.”
In Pennsylvania, Micklin learned, POW-MIA flags are to be flown at all state buildings, parks and other state-owned properties. However, it’s often counties or other local officials who oversee flags at public libraries, borough halls, fire houses and township buildings. So, the vet has been making some calls.
After talking with Micklin, Ed Pfeiffer, chief of the Hartsville Fire Company, said he was happy to join the “one-man crusade.”
“We volunteer firefighters support our troops and currently have two members on active duty. It wasn't until Alan reached out that we realized the importance of never forgetting our POW/MIAs by flying their flag. We don't forget September 11, 2001 and we don't forget our POW/MIAs,” the chief said, in an email.
Wrightstown Township Manager Stacey Mulholland shared the sentiment after Micklin called her.
“Ensuring the POW-MIA flag is flying at every municipal building is a noble mission and the Wrightstown Township Board of Supervisors is pleased to enthusiastically support it,” said Mulholland in an email.
It recently added the flag to its flagpole at the township’s veteran’s memorial.
Visitors to Bucks County’s libraries will also be noticing more POW-MIA flags, after Micklin connected with Bucks County Free Library’s CEO, Martina Kominiarek.
“We know our lost heroes live on in the memories of their families and friends. America’s flags symbolize our country’s values. By flying this flag we publicly communicate that as a nation we do remember and we are grateful,” said Kominiarek.
The POW-MIA flag was inspired by Mary Hoff, a member of the National League of POW/MIA Families. In 1971, she proposed creating a symbol for prisoners of war and those missing in action. Her husband, Lt. Commander Michael Hoff, USN, was missing in action at the time.
In 1972, Hoff met Norman Rivkees, who was sympathetic to the cause and he and the late Newt Heisly designed the flag to represent those being held prisoners and those missing in Vietnam. It was approved by the league’s board of directors in 1972 and the black flag, bearing the silhouette of a soldier and the words “You Are Not Forgotten,” began being made.
“We must not forget,” said Micklin.
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