Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 POW-MIA Proclamation and Support5 , 1� 4 8 -CS Residents Adopt Resolution By JEANNE LLOYD Eagle Family Editor Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary describes the Avrd empathy as the capacity for par- ticipating in another's feelings or ideas. Bryan - College S t a t i o n residents took a giant step in this direction this week. Mayor Jerome (Jack) 'Lubik of Bryan and Mayor D. A. (Andy) Anderson of College Station signed resolutions "In Support of Captured American and Allied Fighting Men and Those Missing In Action in the Vietnam Conflict" on Tuesday. The resolutions condemn the repressive and cruel treat- ment of American and allied prisoners by North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong). Resolution No. 14 petitions the government of North Vietnam to act on the following points: - Observe the international accords 6f the Geneva Con- vention in the same manner the government of South Vietnam accords to captured troops of the North Vietnam government and their allies. (South Vietnam acceded to the Geneva Convention on Nov. 14, 1953, and North Vietnam on June 28, 1957.) - Release names and physical condition of all prisoners held. - Immediately release sick and wounded prisoners. - Provide for impartial in- spections of prisoner of war facilities by international humanitarian organizations. - Provide for medical treatment of all prisoners. - Provide for regular flow of mail, food and comfort items. =Cease using prisoners for purposes of public propaganda and mental torture of prisoners and their innocent families. 7.t1 g r e e to immediately r, e g o tiate through in- ternational humanitarian organizations for the fair and eq u i t a b 1 e exchange of prisoners of both sides. Two families of College Station have been working untiringly to accomplish the goals established in the resolutions. Mr. and Mrs. Neal P. Ward received word about a year ago that their son, Neal Clinton Ward, was missing in action (MIA). They have had no further information. Mrs. Alton B. (Bobbie) Meyer has kept a lonely vigil for three years. Her husband is a prisoner of war (POW). It was through Mrs. Ward's efforts that the cities of Bryan - College Station adopted the resolutions. Mrs. Meyer has worked unceasingly to inform local residents of the plight of POW's and MIAs by passing out pamphlets at business establishments to encourage and North Vietnam Minister Xuan Thuy. It doesn't take long to sign a post card or write a letter and the U.S. Government has stated public opinion could sway North Vietnam into taking action regarding POWs and MIAs according to the Geneva Convention. &ador to . write foreign congressmen, B -CS MAYO S SIG 7,6 PRO AMAT N The Mayors of Bryan and College Station have proclaimed June 28th thru July 4th as PRISIONER OF WAR and MISSING IN ACT- ION week. This week has been proclaimed to bring to the attention of the public the plight of the American Servicemen who are pris- ioners of war and missing in action and to condemn Hanoi for the poor treat- ment of our men. Each citizen is asked to write a letter to a Foreign Head of State asking that that country use their in- fluence to persuade North Viet Nam to abide by the Geneva Conventions. Petitions to the Presid- ent of North Viet Nam, bro- chure, address lists, and bumper stickers will be available to the public in all the local banks and sav- ings and loan institutions Monday, June 29 thru Fri- day, July 3. In addition, there will be tables with petitions and in- formation located in con- venient places thru both cities on Friday, July 3rd. The Bryan proclamation waE sponsored by the American Legion. Dona,ionls asked for POW wives College Station mayor D. A. Anderson has asked for financial support of College Station wom- en whose husbands are prisoners of war or missing in action in Indochina. All donations for the expenses they have should be mailed di- rect to Mrs. Alton B. Meyer, 1213 Haines, College Station, he said. "The strain upon these women can be understood in recognition of the treatment their husbands or loved ones are receiving at the hands of the Viet Cong," Ander- son said. "We have supported them through our signatures and otherwise. "These women have, however, expenses that few in our com- munity are aware of. They are not large, but continuous. Might I suggest a donation of $1, $2, or $5 toward this effort ?" POW -111A Families Supported ' The mayors of Bryan and College Station have come out in support ' of the activities of the families of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action and have urged support of the com- munity. College Station Mayor D. A. Anderson, announced earlier this week that he was urging fiancial support _for the projects of the families. He said the work to effect proper treatment and release of prisoners was causing a financial need among the group. Anderson asked that donations of $1 to $5 be sent to Mrs. Alton B. Meyer, 1213 Haines in College Station. Bryan Mayor Jerome Zubic has proclaimed the week of Dec. 13 as Prisoner of War Week in Bryan. He urged all citizens to show their respect and concern for these ser- vicemen and to pray for their release. Jeanne Lloyd Dear Aggies; Your friends ran this story May 13.) are in trouble. Two graduates It matters not what you of Texas A &M University personally believe of U.S. from College Station are involvement in Vietnam. What among the nearly 3,000 matters is your buddies are prisoners of war (POYs) and in trouble and, possibly, a missing in action (MIAs) simple matter of writing a servicemen of the Vietnam letter, or signing a petition, c.onriet. or, sending a telegram to They need your aid. There proper places might turn the, are other Aggies in other tide. states and other towns that need your aid. It is public knowledge now P g Let's be big about it. All that POWs are mistreated of thase POWs and MIAs need with inadequate diets, public your aid, Aggies or not. abuse, blocking free exchange North Vietnam has refused of mail and failure to release to abide by the 1949 Geneva the sick and wounded. Convention which, as we all know, is a treaty covering the There are, of course, ex- protection of prisoners of war. tT eme cases on record also th ' North Vietnam is among the physical abuse. 120 countries that signed the. Sa Aggies, how about treaty. �conta Mayor Jack Zubik The MIA in College Station of Bryan and D. A. (Andy) was reported missing one Anderson of College Station year ago. His parents and and asking them to proclaim .wife have no idea if he is a week for citizens to sign alive or dead. This condition petitions, or write letters or exists because the BigWigs of send telegrams to their ` Hanoi refuse to release names congressmen protesting of POWs. Hanoi's refusal to abide by Until a few months ago, our the Geneva Convention. government kept most of these facts under wraps, The Eagle has a list of hoping silence would make countries and names to write. he BigWigs change their Amcng them are Prime minds. This didn't work. Minister Olaf Palme, The Now the wraps are off and Governor's House, Stockholm, he government hopes public Sweden; Secretary General U pinion will shake the rascals T h a n t , United Nations nto, at least, releasing names Headquarters, New York, f POWs and exercising N.Y. umane treatment of same. lette Hew about starting at the The other Aggie from top? Try Minister Xuan Thuy, College Station was an MIA North Vietnam Delegation, or two and a half years. He Paris Peace Talks, Paris, is and has been a POW for France. ree years. His wife and ly r ecently received two T h e r e' s the problem from him. (The Eagle Aggies. OX ... Gig `Em.