Whereas, POWs and MIAs have earned a special place in the hearts of all Americans; and,

Whereas, The loss of a loved one is tragic under any circumstance, but the pain and suffering experienced by the families of our servicemen and women held in action or missing in action is magnified when the fate of the loved one is unknown; and,

Whereas, More than 4,400 American military personnel remain missing from World War I, 78,000 remain missing from World War II, 8,100   from the Korean War, 1,805   from the Vietnam War, and 125 from the Cold War; and,

Whereas, This number includes 365 Michigan servicemen from the Korean War, 55 from the Vietnam War, and 4 Michigan servicemen from the Cold War, and their families, friends, and fellow veterans still endure uncertainty; and,

Whereas, The continuing efforts of a determined nation have in the past year identified Seaman 2^nd Class Warren P. Hickock of Kalamazoo, a casualty from December 7, 1941, and returned him to his family for reburial with honors at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; and,

Whereas, We are profoundly grateful for the strength and fidelity of family and friends of these brave Americans; their cause is our cause, an unwavering dedication to leave no American soldier on the battlefield; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2006, as POW/MIA Recognition Day in Michigan and I encourage all citizens to recognize the plight of our POWs/MIAs, in particular those from Michigan, and support our nation’s efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting of those who remain missing.