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Show Thursday, July 16, 1981 Uintah Basin Standard to set 18 march July remember POWWIAs I am Vietnameae born and raised in Hai Phong, where I lived until I left Vietnam on March 25, 1979. On the question of American POWs, every Vietnamese living in the Hai Phong, Hanoi area knows that they are still being held in Vietnam. Several years ago the National League of Families of American Prisoners of War and Missing in Southeast Asia ran an ad in Tang Den, a magazine written for refugees from Southeast Asia. The purpose of the ad was to gather information on the status of 2,553 American military men still unaccounted for after the Vietnam War. The above statement is part of an actual letter that was sent to the League. It's just a small sample of hundreds of similar letters. Brian Hayes, the Roosevelt representative of the League of Families, is convinced that Americans are still being held captive in Southeast Asia. To me it's impossible that 2,600 guys could disappear," said Hayes. It's like waking up in the morning and half of Roosevelt's gone. Somebody's got to know something about it." Utah Senator Orrin Hatch shares Hayes' convictions. I am convinced that there are unrepatriated servicemen still being held, said Hatch in a May 11 letter. President Reagan is also concerned about the nearly 2,600. missing American servicemen. In fact, he designated July 17 as National POWMIA Recognition Day. I.. .call.. .on appropriate offices of the Federal state and local governments, as well as private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities," said President Reagan in his official proclamation. Brian Hayes said that Mayor Ralph Shields has designated July 18 as POWMIA Recognition Day in Roosevelt. Other mayors endorsing this day include Mayor Sam Snyder, Vernal; Howard Brinkerhoff, Altamont; Ed Browning, Duchesne; Gerry I vie, Myton; Karl Shisler, Ballard; and Dennis Turn bow, Tabiona. There will be a "Silent Brigade march on July 18. Anyone interested in marching should meet at Roosevelt elementary school at 10 a.m. After the march, at about 10:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony in the old City Park, said Hayes. Lew Ross, an advisor from the National League of Families of American POWs and Missing in Southeast Asia will be a featured speaker. Ross is also a deccrated Vietnam veteran. Lillian Other speakers include Fowler, of Congressman Jim Hansen's Roosevelt office; Mayor, Ralph Shields; Clarence Jones, of Roosevelt's American Legion; Charles Thompson, of Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Brian Hayes. Hayes said the national recognition day came as a result of efforts by the National League of Families. The purpose of the ceremonies is to honor and show we haven't forgotten . the 142,000 POWMIAs that we've had in our last four conflicts, says Hayes, "and the 2,600 men unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. In addition to the Saturday ceremonies, the League is asking that the missing military men be remembered in prayer Sunday, July 19. Petitions were sent last week to President Reagan urging that the government take steps to get an accounting of the nearly 2,600 men missing in Southeast Asia, 25 of whom are from Utah. But the President didn't wait for the he sent a rescue petitions. In mid-Mateam to Laos. Hayes said that the purpose of the mission was to rescue, or at least photograph any American prisoners there. "No ground intelligence has been released, said Hayes of the mission. There are no photographs of an American in Southeast Asia since 1973. President Reagan is more commit- ted to finding out the fate of these soldiers than previous administrations, said Hayes. He's willing to go in there and rescue the guys. People have also been writing Congressmen demanding that they take steps to resolve the problem. Hayes said the hostage situation in Iran heightened people's awareness of the POWMIA problem still existing in Southeast Asia. "The only difference between these and the hostages in Iran is that there's more," Hayes said. Many of the letters the League has received from refugees say that the Americans being held eaptive are from the undergoing Vietnamese. You and I "What is know it as brainwashing, said Hayes. "It's not working." Lt. General Eugene Tighe, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, testified on June 25 before a House of 24 ' that Representatives American servicemen are "alive and being held against their will in Indochina." Tighe testified there is a of evidence "fast moving train indicating that Americans remain in Southeast Asia as slave labor. "The government can flat demand that we have a full accounting," said Hayes, "something that was supposed to be done when we signed the peace treaty." When the Kissinger Peace Accor ! were signed in 1973, the Vietnamese gave the United States only a partial list of American POWs and MIAs, said Hayes. Last week the communist govern ment in Vietnam sent back three bodies to the United States. Hayes said that 75 bodies have been returned since the 1973 peace treaty. He uid there are 400 bodies over there still "We know that from a Chinese mortician. Hayes is hoping for a good turnout to the march and the program in the park on the 18th. "I hope people can sympathize with these families," said Hayes. "The prisoner himself has lost a lot, but the prisoner knows how hes being treated. He knows he's alive," said Hayes. "But the families dont know anything. "They need all the help they can get, he said. I guess that's where I come in. Hayes said the Americans still unaccounted for should be the concern of every citizen. "If it happens again it could affect someone in this area," said Hayes. "We shouldnt have to wait until it happens to us. THE UNION COUGARETTES-participa- ted the USU Drill Team camp which in was held from June 30 thru July 3. The girls received a superior trophy for their efforts in the n competition. Finalists for the drill-dow- were Sonnet Swain, Lisa Killian, and Carol Percival. The group consists of 21 Juniors, and Seniors at Sophomores, Union. The new drill team and cheerleader advisor is Becky Brough. Farewell reception set for local music teacher A reception has been scheduled July 21 to honor Diane Hardy who will be moving from Roosevelt at the end of July. Dianne has accepted a position at Utah State University in Logan as Chairman of the Youth Conservatory Program with the Music Department. She will also be working on her masters degree. AU students, former students, associates and the general public are 9 invited to the reception to be given in her honor. It wiU be held July 21 from 7:"0 to 9 p.m. at the Moon Lake Electric building in Roosevelt. Dianne, a native of Roosevelt, has been teaching piano for 20 years, 10 have been in Roosevelt During these years she has taught about 800 students. The last five years she has carried an average of 65 students at a time. Her students have ranged from to grandmothers. Many of her students have won, or placed highly, in music contests, and there have been many music scholarship winners. She has continued her own training by obtaining state and national certification through the National Music Teachers Association. She is now on the State Board of the Utah Music Teachers Association over group teaching. In addition, Dianne hai published articles on piano teaching in the American Music Teacher magazine, and hu a music game on the market She has given the state on In May Bachelor of Music flegre from USU. Mount Olympas Waters now provides complete residential and commercial wafer cooler service to the Uintah Basin. Call collect 974-500- 0 Mount flMymjnis Waters, Inc. 1825 South 3730 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84125 |