USA Flag
 
POW/MIA Flag
 
NH Flag
 
Northeast POW/MIA Network
Freedom Ride

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"As an American asked to serve, I was prepared to fight, to be wounded,
to be captured and even prepared to die, but I was not prepared to be abandoned."

(Former POW Eugene "Red" McDaniel - Source: VVnW POW/MIA Page)


September 19th is national POW/MIA recognition day. The “NH Original POW/MIA Memorial” in Meredith’s Hesky Park “The Rock” has been the hub for POW/MIA information and recognition.“The Rock” will have a small symbol placed there for the day.

A small bag with lemon, a pinch of salt, a rose, matches and red ribbon. The Lemon to remind us of the bitter fate of those CAPTURED…POW’s. The Pinch Of Salt reminds us of the tears shed by those missing and their families. The Rose reminds us of the LIFE of each POW/MIA. The Matches, to keep the fire burning in the name of Faith and Trust and the Red Ribbon is a symbol of our Determination and Responsibility to “ALL” POW’s/MIA’s Past, Present and Future. 9 small POW/MIA Flags will surround The Rock  symbolizing NH being the 9th State in the union and Meredith “The Rock”, the NH Original POW/MIA State Memorial.

Bob Jones
Northeast POW/MIA Network

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This years Freedom Ride though wet was one of the best! Thank you to all who turned out to stand for those who have stood for us. This was just one night, Carolyn Maupin spent 1,460 nights asking questions about her son SSG Matt Maupin.

We ask that you contact our Congressional memebership and ask for the change in terminology. Next year we want to be able to say the terminology is "POW". Contact them today!

Congresswoman Carol
Shea-Porter

Washington D.C. Office
1330 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p. (202) 225-5456
f. (202) 225-5822

Congresswoman Shea-Porter participates in Subcommittee hearing on oversight and status of
POW-MIA activities.

NH Office Locations


Congressman Paul Hodes
1317 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5206
Fax: (202) 225-2946





NH Office Locations

Senator Judd Gregg
201 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3324

NH Office Locations

Senator Jeanne Shaheen
520 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2841


NH Office Locations

A special thank you to special guest ~ Carolyn Maupin ~ Mother of Sgt. Matt Maupin.

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SAVE THE DATE
POW/MIA VIGIL AND FREEDOM RIDE
JUNE 17, 2010 ~ THURSDAY @ 7:00 PM
HESKY PARK MEREDITH

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22nd Anniversary of the Vigil
17th Anniversary of the Freedom Ride


Till this year's Freedom Ride

2009 Freedom Ride Flyer with rider information

"A PICTURE OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE, HONOR,
PERSISTANCE AND LOYALTY"


Have a question? Contact us

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Gov. Lynch and the Freedom Ride

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Join us for the weekly POW/MIA Vigil
21 years of standing for those who stood for us!

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The "Freedom Ride" was started in 1994 by a local motorcycle club; H.D. Riders.  The ride is held in conjunction with the POW/MIA Vigil as a way of bringing both attention and participation to the issue.  It was modeled after "Rolling Thunder" which takes place every Memorial Day in Washington D.C.

The Freedom Ride is held every summer during Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Never ForgetWeek.   Bikers gather for the 11 mile journey that winds its way along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.  The trip ends at Hesky Park in Meredith culminating in a special Thursday night Vigil.  The Freedom Ride is event whose sole purpose is to "keep the promise."        

Some of those who have attended: Tom Cook, son of unreturned POW Col. Donald Cook; Pat Plumadore, sister of MIA Kenneth Plumadore;  former POW's Charlie Crafts, Ike Camacho, Mike Benge and Mike Durant.  Other attendees have included Col. Mike Peck, Adrian Cronauer, Senator Bob Smith, Pat Blassie, sister of the "Unknown Soldier" Michael Blassie, Judith Rupperick, and David Dolby, MOH Recipient.

The POW/MIA vigil in Meredith gained nationwide attention 21 years ago when a small group of veterans began holding weekly Thursday night vigils to bring to light the Nation’s lack of effort to account for all service men and women missing from Vietnam.

This is the year we ALL CAME together in the effort to make it the largest gathering ever in New England…All Bikers together, All Veterans together for the POW/MIA issue.

Although our focus MUST be on the POW/MIA issue our ride this year was dedicated to some special women the Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers of New Hampshire  “Who better understands what and why we do what we do more than a mother as "Love never loses its way home"



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Highlightes from the 2007 Freedom Ride

Video "Freedom Ride"

Video of Trish Burnett's speech

Slideshow from the 2007 Freedom Ride

Blue Star Mothers of New Hampshire

New Hampshire Gold Star Mothers

Slideshow from 2008 Freedom Ride to the "Rock"

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Color Guard at the Freedom Ride
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UPDATES

Gov. John Lynch will be signing HB148 Recognizing POW/MIA as only Official Name

The Governor is planning a POW/MIA recognition event at the New Hampshire State House this Thursday, June 11, at 9:30am. The Governor will be signing SB148 into law, and anyone who is interested is welcome to come. 

We are under the impression that the Governor will also be signing our
petition to the President and Congress to tell the DOD that they must
return to the POW/MIA designation.

We believe NH is the first state in the Union to officially declare that
only the Term POW/MIA is acceptable.

UPDATE: Click here to download the letter that Gov. Lynch has sent to President Obama.

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It's official, the State of NH is the first state in the Union to pass
and enforce a bill that states that the only recognizable description
for POW/MIA's is the designations POW and MIA. The governor signed it into law this morning in front of a group of about 75-100 people, and in addition he signed our POW/MIA petition that will go to the President
and Congress asking them to direct the DOD to restore this designation.
The Governor also announced that he will be sending a letter to the
President on this matter, and in addition will be asking the the
Chairman of the National Governors Association to present this to all
Governors. Senator Jack Barnes, has drafted a letter asking the same
that he will be sending to all the governors and some Congressional leaders.On the petition signed by the Governor also appears the signatures of Representatives, Senators and two WW II former POW's.Attached you will find copies of the Bill, the passed legislation and the Governors proposed letter.
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POW/MIA bracelets can be ordered
for $10.00 from Sue ~ Remember Matt

All monies go to purchasing additional braclets to raise awareness of the POW/MIA issue. "Don't Wear It Unless You Want To Get Involved".

With those words the POW MIA bracelet was born. "A simple metal band engraved with the name of a POW or MIA and the date he was lost... Don't wear it unless you want to get involved. When one assumes the one-to-one bond with a stranger who is unable to even ask for your concern, and to enter the pain of his family, something happens to you... To learn more visit the link ~ History of the MIA Braclet
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The President's Page ~ visit this page to learn more facts on the POW/MIA issue from those who live with it every day.

POW OR PRISONER OF WAR NO LONGER EXISTS AS A CONTROLLING DIRECTIVE IN DoD MATTERS; WHY??


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The American Freedom Network

Listen to POW/MIA Radio every Sunday on The American Freedom Network, http://www.americanewsnet.com . We also broadcast with 10,000 watts on KHNC-AM, 1360khz, Johnstown, Colorado.  If you are unable to get the show on the website, please re-enter the URL in your address line and try again.

Thanks,

Rod Utech
rodutech@comcast.net

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Honor Flight New England

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all of their sacrifices. Through generous donations we transport our heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials AT NO COST
TO THE VETERAN.

Click here to see how you can help.

Honor Flight New England

Over 1000 World War II Veterans Die Each Day!

Honor Flight New England will be making its Inaugural Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. on June 13th 2009. On board will be 14 World War II Prisoners of War and 5 World War II Heroes, including one hero that lost his sight while serving his country.

The busses with our heroes on board will be arriving at the Manchester Airport between 6:00 and 6:30 am.

We will be returning that evening at 9:30 p.m.

For more information contact
Joe Byron, Founder
Honor Flight New England
603-518-5368 or at honorflightnewengland@gmail.com

THERE IS NO COST TO THE VETERAN FOR THIS TRIP OF A LIFETIME

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We need your help to locate next-of-kin of NH POWs

We are urgently seeking next-of-kin of New Hampshire POWs who died in captivity during WWII or the Korean War. 31 of 61 have been contacted. If you are a family member or know the family of a POW who so died, please get in touch with me.

A formal ceremony is scheduled August 8, 2009 at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at which the Purple Heart will be awarded posthumously. (See flyer below)

I can be reached by email at:
allangavan@gmail.com
or 603-253-9359.

Thank you,

Allan Gavan

Click here to download the flyer for the
August 8th ceremony.

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Former POWs Now Eligible for Posthumous Purple Hearts

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 – A policy change to expand eligibility for the Purple Heart award to prisoners of war who died in captivity represents the right decision that recognizes their sacrifice, a senior defense official told American Forces Press Service.

The Pentagon announced the new policy earlier this week that will extend criteria for receiving Purple Hearts to prisoners of war who have died in captivity since the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“The Purple Heart is an award worn with great pride and recognizes that the servicemember has been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action,” said Samuel Retherford, director of the Pentagon's officer and enlisted personnel management directorate 

The revision maintains the integrity of the award while allowing a reasonable presumption that servicemembers who die in captivity did so as a result of enemy action or complicity, he said.

Retherford noted that the conditions and circumstances of capture and captivity are difficult to document. But unless compelling evidence indicates otherwise, the policy assumes that the death resulted from enemy action or from wounds incurred as a result of enemy action during capture.

The new policy will allow retroactive award of the Purple Heart to qualifying POWs since World War II. This will cover the large number of American POWs who died in captivity during that war, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said.

Extension of the Purple Heart to these POWs does not constitute dual recognition for the same act or service, Lainez emphasized.

“The POW Medal recognizes honorable service for members who endure the trials and tribulations associated with being a POW,” she said. “The Purple Heart recognizes servicemembers who are wounded or killed in action with the enemy or as a result of enemy action.”

Each military department will publish application procedures for retroactive Purple Heart awards. Family members with questions may contact the services directly: Army, 703-325-8700; Navy, 314-592-1150; Air Force, 800-616-3775; Marine Corps, 703-784-9340.

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Visit our new Call to Action page to learn how you can help the
Northeast POW/MIA Network with their mission


New iconH.Res. 111 update

New Hampshire Rep. Carol Shea-Porter
and Rep. Paul Hodes have
signed onto H.Res. 111

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Restore the POW Status NOW!

Who Wants To Tell These Soldiers
They Are Not Prisoners of War.

To learn more on how you can help
visit the National Families of POW/MIA Alliance

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Fibi Maupin
3/3/09

Fibi Matt Maupin's DogMatt Maupin spent alot of time with Fibi, his fluffy Collie mix, and rescued her from the shelter as a young adult. Carolyn Maupin called us at work at 7am, frantic because Fibi could not get up. She was 13 years old and needed to be euthanized. Dr. Dan called the Maupin's with the sad news, and they both came in to be with her when she died. It was so emotional, as Fibi was Carolyn's last link to Matt.



My life has been blessed;
since the day we met to me you are one; very special pet

The Lord decided;
to put us together I'll always be thankful; for ever and ever You are my star;
my guiding light my eyes and ears;
in the black of night;

I look to the day; we'll be together again just me and my very; special friend

Visit the Matt Maupin Scholorship Fund

Visit Matt's page

Click here to sign SSG Keith "Matt" Maupin's Memory Book

 

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National Alliance of Families For the Return of
America’s Missing Servicemen

World War II – Korea – Cold War – Vietnam – Gulf Wars

Dolores Alfond ~ 425-881-1499

Lynn O’Shea ~ 718-846-4350

Web Site ~ www.nationalalliance.org

Email ------ lynn@nationalalliance.org

May 3, 2008 ~ Bits N Pieces

The POW Status -- Matt Maupin was buried last week.  Among the honors bestowed was the awarding of his medals.  These medals included the Purple Heart and the POW Medal. 

Isn’t it ironic that a captured serviceman, returned under his country’s flag is now designated a POW, by our government.   Yet, our government denies that same individual a POW status when it is needed most, when he is in enemy hands.

We recognize this enemy, like the Viet Cong before them, does not adhere to the Geneva Conventions.   However, the designation of captured American service members as POW tells the world the value we place on our personnel and tells the enemy how we expect these men and women to be treated.  

The designation POW paints a picture.  It clearly states a service member is in enemy hands.   Missing/Captured is ambiguous.  There was no ambiguity to Maupin’s status; he was a POW under the Geneva Conventions. Had this been the Vietnam War, under the same circumstances, Maupin would have been designated a POW.  We’ve proven that, over and over again.

 The public understands the POW designation.  A Missing/Captured designation is a question mark. Clearly, in the case of Matt Maupin there is no question.  Yet, sadly our government refused to provide Maupin the moral protection a POW designation provides.

In our March 15th newsletter, we related two incidents, one involving the media the other personal, that illustrated the general public’s lack of awareness regarding service members captured in Iraq.  That’s what the Missing/Captured designation does.  It misleads the American public.

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The Waiting ~ Just four U.S. soldiers are missing in Iraq.
For their parents, it's a lonely vigil.
By GINA CHON


the waiting story


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Check back often for updates

This site updated: 01/12/2009
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