An Act To Promote POW/MIA Recognition Day

Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §136,  as enacted by PL 1999, c. 302, §1, is amended to read:

§ 136. Prisoner of War - Missing in Action Recognition Day

The Governor annually shall issue a proclamation designating the 3rd Friday in September as Prisoner of War - Missing in Action Recognition Day in remembrance of the courage and plight of American prisoners of war and those missing in action. The proclamation must recommend that the day be observed in an appropriate manner and must specify that the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half staff on that day. The Governor shall issue the proclamation through a media outlet as defined in Title 3, section 312-A, subsection 10-B at least 48 hours in advance of the day. The Department of Education and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services shall make appropriate information available to citizens, schools, organizations and groups within the limits of their budgets.

summary

This bill requires the Governor to issue the proclamation designating the 3rd Friday in September as Prisoner of War - Missing in Action Recognition Day through a media outlet at least 48 hours in advance of the day. The bill also requires that the proclamation specify that the United States flag and the State of Maine flag be flown at half staff on that day. The bill also requires that the Department of Education and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services make appropriate information available within the limits of their budgets.