Reps. Outman, Barnett, Bauer, Brown, Crawford, Darany, Denby, Heise, Hooker, Knollenberg, Poleski, Price, Slavens and Tyler offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 129. 

A resolution to declare Sept. 16, 2011, as POW/MIA Day in the state of Michigan. 

Whereas, It has always been the creed of those who wear a military uniform never to leave a fallen comrade on the battlefield. On this day we pay tribute to those who are missing in action or have been taken prisoner of war and never returned home; and

Whereas, To date a total of 83,580 Americans are listed as prisoners of war or missing in action since World War II. This includes 73,787 in World War II, 7,985 in the Korean War, 125 in the Cold War, and 1,683 in the Vietnam War; and

Whereas, We as a nation can never collectively rest until we account for all those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to their country; and

Whereas, We express our deepest gratitude to these patriots in both words and actions, knowing they were fighting to protect our rights and freedoms; and

Whereas, Those who have died in battle continue to be located and brought home for military rites, including the 59 soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen who were identified and repatriated in 2010, and the 30 who have been brought home so far this year; and

Whereas, The families of these brave men and women will never rest until their fate is known, such as the family of Private First Class Henry L. Gustafson of Sault Ste. Marie, who waited 61 years to bury him after his death on a frozen battlefield in North Korea in December 1950. Private First Class Gustafson was brought home in June of this year; and

Whereas, Their work will not be complete, nor will our commitment be fulfilled, until they come home; and

Whereas, The stark MIA/POW flag will fly proudly near the U.S. and state of Michigan flags on Sept. 16, serving as a commanding reminder that the duty of those who are missing in action or prisoners of war is finished, but ours continues  as we seek to find, repatriate and honor these courageous men and women; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 16, 2011, as POW/MIA Day in the state of Michigan.