WHEREAS, more than 1,584 Americans are still missing from the Vietnam War, as well as 7,560 unaccounted-for from the Korean War, 126 from the Cold War and more than 72,000 from WWII, though thousands from WWII are assessed as unrecoverable deep-sea losses; and
WHEREAS, the families and friends of unaccounted-for Vietnam War Veterans, as well as countless fellow Veterans other than Americans, still await recovery and identification of their remains or, if determined unrecoverable, information regarding their fates; and
WHEREAS, successive administrations have reinforced solid commitment to accounting for our Nation’s POW/MIAs as a matter of highest national priority for the United States; and
WHEREAS, Vietnam and Laos cooperate with the recovery effort, but government intelligence and other evidence indicate that increased unilateral and joint efforts would bring more rapid answers; and
WHEREAS, North Korea, Cambodia, the Russian Federation, and the People’s Republic of China could offer greater assistance in locating and providing archival documents and responding to questions about unaccounted-for Americans; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina commends, supports and share our Nation’s commitment to account as fully as possible Americans still missing and unaccounted-for from our Nation’s past wars and conflicts; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2021, as “POW/MIA RECOVERY DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.