PROCLAMATION TO HONOR POW/MIA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
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GEORGE C. McGOUGH
MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
WHEREAs, Our Country, which was founded on the principals of Freedom, Justice and
Equali ty, was given life by COlIJOOn citizens wi th uncommon courage who took
up arms to fight for their beliefs; and
WHEREAs, The freedoms that we, Americans, enjoy; the privilege to support or
protest against our government, to worship as we please, to think, speak
and vote as our conscience and our hearts dictate, has always been and
will always be secured by average citizens who place the love of liberty
and devotion to God and country above their own personal comfort; and
WHEREAs, 2,296 of America's best citizens are still listed as missing-in-action
in Southeast Asia 18 years after the involvement of the United States
in that conflict ceased; and
WHEREAs, There have been more than 11,000 live sighting reports since 1973 of
American servicemen being held against their will as prisoners in
Southeast Asia; and
WHEREAs, In October 1990, the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee
released an "Interim Report on the Southeast Asian POW/MIA Issue" that
concluded that United States military personnel were being held against
their will in Southeas t Asia; and
WHEREAs, These Americans have endured, and continue to endure, unimaginable
hardship while their families have held out hope and postponed their
grief; and
WHEREAS, The City of Clearwater has seen fit to help bring these facts to the
attention of the nation by honoring its citizens still listed as missing-
in-action in Southeast Asia, and by bestowing honorary citizenship to
Lt. Morgan J. Donahue, a brave American still being held captive in
Southeast Asia.
NOW, 'mEREFORE, I, GIDRGE C. ~, MAYOR OF mE CTIY OF LARGO, FlDRIDA, do
hereby proclaim March 30, 1991, as
"AMERICANS DONIT ABANDON AMElUCANS DAY"
in the City of Largo and urge all citizens to support those brave American
servicemen still being held as prisoners of war in Southeast Asia and their families
and to further support the City of Clearwater in its effort to enhance the American
public's understanding of the plight of these Americans. I also urge our highest
elected officials not to abandon America's best citizens and to secure their
expeditious release.
IN WTIN.ESs WHEREDF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the great Seal of the
City of Largo, Florida, to be affixed
this th day of March in this year of our
Lor One Thousand Nine Hundre Ninety-One.
ATTEST:
MAY: R
~~~
City Clerk