Cotton joins push on POW/MIA flag

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., are teaming up to support the National POW/MIA Flag Act, which was introduced Monday.

It would require the White House, the Capitol and other federal buildings to fly the POW banner whenever the U.S. flag is displayed.

The black-and-white banner features the silhouette of a prisoner of war with barbed wire and a guard tower behind him. It features the words “You are not forgotten.”

The banner was created during the Vietnam War and is a reminder of not only the nation’s prisoners of war but also its servicemen who are missing in action.

Cotton, a U.S. Army veteran who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, credited Warren with getting the ball rolling in the Senate. When Warren asked for help, Cotton said he was happy to pitch in.

“I thought it was a nice gesture,” the Dardanelle veteran said. “We still have tens of thousands of MIAs from wars throughout the 20th century. There’s an entire agency in the Pentagon, with hundreds of professionals dedicated to bringing those MIAs or … their remains home so we can have closure for their families.”

The Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action flag is “one small symbol, one everyday reminder” of the nation’s commitment to bringing every service member home, Cotton said.

In a news release, Warren said she has family members who have served in the armed services.

“All three of my brothers served in the military, and I understand the sacrifices our service members and their families make to keep our country safe every single day,” Warren said. “We must honor those who have served our nation courageously, including those who have not made it home. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill alongside Sen. Cotton to ensure that this important symbol honoring our brave men and women is proudly displayed with the American flag.”

The measure is backed by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups. Similar legislation was filed last year in the House.