U.S. Marks First National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day with Symbolic Flag Ceremony
The US marks National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, honoring Americans held overseas. Families advocate for action to bring loved ones home.
On March 9, the U.S. is observing its first National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day following the bipartisan legislation signed into law by President Biden. This day of remembrance honors Americans who have been wrongfully held overseas.
Legislation Details
The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act, introduced and shepherded through Congress by Reps. Haley Stevens, French Hill, and Sen. Chris Coons, has established March 9 as a significant day for all Americans wrongfully held abroad.
Creation of a National Flag
Alongside this legislation, a national flag for wrongfully detained Americans and hostages has been created, which was raised for the first time outside the State Department on Friday morning alongside the American flag. This unique black and yellow flag resembles America's prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA) flag.
Flag Commemoration
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell announced that the flag will be raised outside the State Department every year on March 9 and will also fly when an American hostage held abroad either dies or returns home.
Personal Commitment
Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared his personal commitment by carrying a card with a list of dozens of Americans held hostage or unjustly detained and has "been able to cross off 46 names on that list" over the past three years.
Symbolism and Emotions
Emotions ran high during the flag-raising ceremony as the date, March 9, holds special significance for the family of Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007 and became the longest-held American hostage in history. The initiative to create awareness on this day was fueled by the desire to turn a negative day into a positive one for the nation.
Design of the Flag
The national flag was designed with input from families of wrongfully detained individuals, featuring a yellow and black design with two rows of tally marks, evoking the passage of time for detainees.
Advocacy and Protests
Following the flag-raising ceremony, several families held a sit-in at Lafayette Square in front of the White House, as part of the grassroots organization Bring Our Families Home, to highlight the plight of their loved ones and urge the administration to do more to bring them home.
International Efforts
Efforts to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans extend to various countries including China, Russia, and Iran, where several individuals have been held for extended periods.
Hope for the Future
The families of the wrongfully detained individuals express the hope that their hardships will not be in vain and that their advocacy will contribute to preventing similar situations in the future.
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