National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day 2020
When war is declared the rules change between the combatants. Belligerent sides may capture those from the other side and detain them for a variety of reasons. Toward this end there were a number of conventions formulated for the treatment of prisoners of war. Many of these are ignored by one or both of the combatant nations in actual practice.I recall my less than illustrious military career. Though I could never envision myself betraying my country in any way I'm glad I was not tested in war. Isolation, mistreatment, malnourishment and terror are typical complaints of those liberated from an imprisoned status during war time.
Then some nations go far beyond the horrors which may be associated with being a prisoner of war.
April 9 is our National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. This corresponds to the liberation of Andersonville in Georgia; one of the most unscrupulous and immoral detainment facilities in the Civil War. I was ashamed of the South after reading several accounts of prisoner treatment there and am left aghast by the cruelty and depravity on the part of the staff toward those held prisoner there.
We who are unaffected by the hardships of war owe a great debt to those who went and fought our battles for us. Even our career military who stood ready to serve deserve our thanks. As for the actual prisoners of war ... words are inadequate to express that debt of gratitude owed them. The notion that some prisoners of war remain missing in action is a difficult matter to reconcile in the minds of a civilian public who did not face such adversity.
Let us hope that all POW/MIA service people and civilians are ultimately accounted for. They and their families deserve it.
God Bless America
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