Inspired by one Vietnam veteran’s mission to honor those missing in action or prisoners of war, Lowe’s across the nation will permanently install the National League of Families POW/MIA flag in stores on Friday, Sept. 20, National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Since Nov. 2019, when the National POW/MIA Flag Act, was signed into law, the POW/MIA flag has been required to be flown directly underneath the American flag on all days the U.S. flag is flown. Since then, Alan Micklin, a veteran and passionate advocate, has worked to ensure the flag is flown in its proper place to honor both service members who remain missing in action or prisoners of war and their families.
My goal is to have that flag fly under every American flag in the country.
The reason behind this mission is awareness of the forgotten. People tend to forget the 81,000+ that have not come home since World War I that have helped give us our rights.”
Alan found an ally in Holly Sonneborn, store manager at his local Bensalem Township, Pa. Lowe’s. When Allen approached Holly, his initial request was to simply donate the POW/MIA flags to buildings in the community, which Holly happily obliged. After getting involved and seeing Allen's passion for remembering those missing military personnel, Holly knew they could take it a step further and fly that flag in the Lowe's store—right next to the stars and stripes.
Her store quickly expanded to the entire district and soon Holly and Mr. Micklin were working with Lowe’s store operations to develop careful instructions on POW/MIA flag placement across the country.
Working for a company that has such respect for the military, I think we have more customers who are military or veterans or whatnot because they know and they see the physical evidence of our support.
“If I believe in something, I’m going to fight for it,” Mr. Micklin shared.
Hopefully, through the power of Lowe's, he can continue to spread the message of this often-forgotten group of veterans. Individuals and business can learn about the POW/MIA flag, including proper flying protocol, by visiting PWO-MIAfamilies.org.
