News Release

National Former POW Recognition Day at Andersonville National Historic Site

Date: April 6, 2016
Contact: Jody Mays, 229-924-0343 ext. 115

Release Date: 6 April 2016

Contacts:  Jody Mays, [e-mail], 229-924-0343, ext. 201

NR16-03   

National Former POW Recognition Day at Andersonville National Historic Site

Special Program will Recognize Former American Prisoners of War and Highlight the Vietnam Prisoner Experience

ANDERSONVILLE, Georgia – Andersonville National Historic Site is the only National Park Service site charged with preserving and interpreting the stories of all American Prisoners of War (POWs), from the Revolutionary War to today. The park’s National Prisoner of War Museum is dedicated to that mission.

April 9^th, 2016, has been designated as National Former POW Recognition Day. In honor of this commemoration, and to recognize the ongoing 50^th anniversary of the conflict in Vietnam, Andersonville staff will present a special, 60-minute program recognizing former POWs across American history while highlighting the Vietnam prisoner experience. This special presentation will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9^th.

In addition, the park will offer a free, one-time showing of the PBS documentary “Return with Honor” at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. In this film, American pilots tell in their own words their experiences of being shot down over North Vietnam and held as POWs. Narrated by Tom Hanks, this full-length feature includes archival footage taken by the North Vietnamese.

As further recognition of National Former POW Recognition Day, the Avenue of Flags will be on display at Andersonville National Cemetery from April 8^th-18^th. Full sized American and POW/MIA flags will line the roadways throughout the national cemetery in a dramatic and visually stunning tribute to those Americans across history who endured captivity and suffering in enemy hands while serving their country.

Park entrance and all activities are free. For more information about National Former POW Recognition Day, go to nps.gov/ande/planyourvisit/formerpowrecognitionday.htm. For more about our Avenue of Flags, go to nps.gov/ande/planyourvisit/aveofflags.htm.

Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, GA and 10 miles northeast of Americus, GA on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery and the site of the historic Civil War prison, Camp Sumter. ­Andersonville National Historic Site is the only national park within the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Park grounds are open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The National Prisoner of War Museum is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily. Admission is free. For more information on the park, call 229 924-0343, or visit at nps.gov/ande/ Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/AndersonvilleNPS, or Twitter at twitter.com/andeNHS

NPS

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