March 26, 1975
Page 8752
U.S. POW'S AND MIA'S IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, one of the great tragedies of the war in Indochina is the continuing question of 1,300 Americans who are still prisoners of war or missing in action. The families of these men are working day and night to explore every possible means of solving this issue — locating survivors and seeking accurate information on the fate of all those concerned.
Last November 8 the Governor of Maine at that time, Hon. Kenneth M. Curtis, issued a proclamation supporting these efforts of the families and friends of the individuals concerned. I ask unanimous consent that this proclamation be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the proclamation was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
STATE OF MAINE — PROCLAMATION
Whereas, in January, 1973, the Vietnam Cease-Fire Agreement was signed in Paris; and
Whereas, the provisions of that agreement called for the return of American Prisoners of War and an accounting of the men Missing in Action; and
Whereas, today, almost two years later, the fate of 1,300 of our men prisoners or missing in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or China is unknown; and
Whereas, there is no evidence that the Communists intend to comply with the provisions of a return of all Prisoners, an accounting of the men Missing in Action, and return of the remains of those who died on foreign soil; and
Whereas, VIVA (Voices In Vital America) and the National League of Families has undertaken the task of bringing to focus attention on the plight of our Prisoners of War and Missing Men; and
Whereas, the focus is in the form of a rededication for freedom.
Now, therefore, I, Kenneth M. Curtis, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim support for the efforts of the families and friends of the American Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia, and call upon all citizens to support this cause and help bring to the attention of America and the world, the plight of our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.
Given at the office of the Governor at Augusta, and sealed with the Great Seal of the State of Maine, this Eighth day of November, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventy-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the One Hundred and Ninety-ninth.
KENNETH M. CURTIS.