Ex-Councilman Prevails in POW/MIA Flag Campaign

A former Lomita City Councilman’s yearlong effort to gain recognition for prisoners of war and those still missing in action came to a successful conclusion Tuesday when President Clinton signed the 1998 Defense Authorization Act, which calls for the POW/MIA flag to be flown at federal buildings and post offices on the six patriotic holidays celebrated annually.

“We did it,” said Dave Albert, who finished his four-year term last week after declining to seek reelection. “It feels great.”

The legislation was introduced in Congress by Rep. Jane Harman (D-Rolling Hills) earlier this year after Albert was denied permission to fly the black and white flag over the post office in Lomita. The U.S. Postal Service allowed only the American flag to be flown outside post offices, and postal officials informed Albert that it would take an act of Congress to change the policy. So he lobbied Harman and city officials across the nation to urge that the law be changed.

As a result, several cities adopted a resolution to fly the flag on their buildings, and the county Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution, similar to the new federal law, to fly the flag at all county facilities the day before and on the six holidays: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

“It’s been a hard, long battle but it’s nice to have it done,” said Albert, who raised the flag above the Lomita post office on Veterans Day last week even though the legislation had yet to be signed into law. “It’s nice to see that the right thing was done.”