From the Chair
August 2024
Let me introduce myself, I am Denton “Denny” Luke from Dewitt B. Tilden Post 316, Atlantic Beach FL. First of all, I want to thank Commander Chris Hamrick for giving me the privilege of serving you as your 2024-2025, Department of Florida POW-MIA Chairman. I will strive to keep you updated on the status of any POW-MIA’s, the progress of the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum being built in Jacksonville and any known POW-MIA events. I also want to introduce your other two POW-MIA Committee Members, Sonny Decker from the Western Area and James Tewes from the Southern Area, together we will have a strong team covering all of Florida.
I encourage all to visit The American Legion Department of Florida website, https://www.floridalegion.org/programs-services/powmia-remembrance/about/ to learn more about the POW-MIA program. Under the resources tab you will find a link to the Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) https://www.dpaa.mil/, Library of Congress Vietnam Era POW-MIA Database, National League of POW-MIA Families, National Alliance of Families For the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen and the POW-MIA Chairmans Manual. The link to the National American Legion website is under the Media tab, https://www.legion.org/honor/powmia
I also encourage you to visit the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum website, https://powmiamemorial.org/ to follow the progress being made to complete this wonderful and only National POW-MIA Memorial being built here in the state of Florida. I invite each of you to visit this Memorial and watch it grow. I also request you log on to the website and sign the Petition urging Congress to pass H. R. 3670 which will designate the site as an Official National Memorial.
At all official meetings we pay homage to the plight of POW-MIAs as specified in Resolution 288 adopted at the 67th American Legion National Convention, however what have you actually done to further the cause? If you or your Post are planning an event surrounding the POW-MIA cause please forward that information to us so we can help spread the word, join you and/or include your event in the Legion Link or on other social media platforms.
The Department of Florida American Legion Riders have committed themselves to do more than utter some verbiage during a meeting. They have created what is hoped to be a premier event in the southeast United States for the National POW-MIA Recognition Day. The actual September, however, is the 3rd Friday of September however they have teamed up with the National POW-MIA Memorial Committee to hold the event on the 3rd Saturday of September allowing a greater participation by the working community. This year will be the 4th annual Seven Bridges POW-MIA Remembrance Ride concluding by attending the Ceremony at the POW-MIA Memorial. This is a Department event in which I encourage your participation.
During the 2023 Ceremony Florida made history. We were and are the only American Legion Department to have had the Department Commander, the Vice Commanders, The Auxiliary President, the Squadron Commander, along with many Department Officers and Chairman all attend the Ceremony at the POW-MIA National Memorial.
I hope to see you there this year for the Ceremony and if you are a Rider, we hope to see you on the Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride as well as at the Ceremony afterward. Check the Department website for more information on this event.
The 2024 POW/MIA Recognition Day Poster has been released. To order yours go to: https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaFamWebPosters . They are free but the number you can order is limited. So, order yours today and proudly display it at your Post or other social venues.
Denny Luke
POW/MIA Chair
powmia@legionmail.org