National POW/MIA Recognition Day is September 19; Family Member DNA Can Help Identify Missing Heroes says Rolling Thunder

    NESHANIC STATION, N.J., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 19, 2008,
 Americans will have the solemn privilege to honor our military service
 personnel who became Prisoners of War or Missing in Action (POW/MIA) while
 serving in conflicts around the world. Service personnel from all wars
 still remain POW/MIA.
 
     Advances in technology have made it possible for family members of MIAs
 to help identify these missing American heroes by providing a sample of
 their DNA, specifically those who share the same mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
 This type of DNA is inherited only from the mother -- each individual's
 mother, brothers, sisters' children and many other relatives share the same
 kind of mtDNA. The sex of the missing person and the donor are irrelevant.
 
     Those who donate a sample of their mtDNA can be assured that the sample
 will only be used to help identify remains, and will not be used for any
 other purpose, nor will it be released to other government agencies or any
 other organization.
 
     Those interested in learning if they might qualify as a donor for this
 program should visit the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) web site
 at www.jpac.pacom.mil .
 
     Rolling Thunder(R) chapters from 11 states are supporting the 2008 POW
 Ride Home, Sept. 17-20, 2008 in Americus and Andersonville, Ga. The
 multi-day annual activity is held in conjunction with the National Park
 Service's Andersonville National Historic Site and Georgia Southwestern
 State University to recognize and honor the nation's Prisoners of War (POW)
 and those Missing in Action (MIA). For more information, visit
 http://www.powridehome.org/ .
 
     About Rolling Thunder
 
     Rolling Thunder's major function is to publicize the POW/MIA issue and
 is committed to helping all American veterans. For more information about
 Rolling Thunder or how to get involved, log onto their website at
 www.rollingthunder1.com or call 908-369-5439.
 
 
 

SOURCE Rolling Thunder, Inc.