POW Bracelets Return to Generate Awareness for Captive Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

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Jun 27, 2013, 09:15 ET

NOVI, Mich., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the early 70's, Voices In Vital America (VIVA) distributed Bracelets to generate awareness for the Prisoners of War (POW) held captive during the Vietnam War. Today, Memorial Bracelets is once again using a POW Bracelet to generate awareness, but this time for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl who is being held prisoner in Afghanistan.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130627/DE39457)

Sergeant Bowe Robert Bergdahl, United States Army, was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan when he was taken captive on June 30, 2009. He is now believed to be held by members of the Haqqani network, a militant group allied with the Taliban. Since his capture, the Taliban has released videos of Sergeant Bergdahl in captivity, and his parents recently received a letter from him. "As Bowe approaches his fourth year as a POW, it is time to bring him home," said Rob Tacy, President of Memorial Bracelets. "If he is not returned by the end of 2014 when our combat troops withdraw, it will look like we have left a man behind," he added.

The bracelets created for the Vietnam War POW's were nickel-plated metal or made of brass, and were stamped to include the soldier's name, rank and date the person was captured or went missing. Today, POW bracelets are made of stainless steel or anodized aluminum. Red aluminum is usually worn for someone who is a Prisoner Of War or Missing In Action (MIA), and black aluminum is often worn to denote someone Killed In Action (KIA). These bracelets are engraved with the rank, name, branch of service, event date, location of event and the ends of the band feature the soldier's state abbreviation and whether a POW or MIA. Optional icons, such as the military branch, US flag or POW*MIA flag symbol can be added. Bracelets for Sgt. Bergdahl can be found at www.POWBracelets.com.

To help continue generating awareness for Bowe's safe return, Memorial Bracelets will donate $2.00 for every bracelet or dog tag sold on the website to non-profit organizations generating awareness for Bowe until he is returned or until the end of 2014. Memorial Bracelets has thus far donated over $160,000 to charities supporting families of Victims Of Terrorism (VOT), Vietnam POWs and MIAs, and U.S. soldiers wounded or fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Memorial Bracelets will be giving away a bracelet, once a week, to a person following them on their Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/memorialbracelets or Twitter located at www.twitter.com/membracelets until Sgt. Bergdahl is back home or until our combat troops withdraw at the end of 2014 to help others show their support for Sgt. Bergdahl. Just like the bracelets for the Vietnam POW's, bracelets for Sgt. Bergdahl should be worn until he returns home.

About Memorial Bracelets
With the launch in October of 2001 of Memorial Bracelets' website, located at www.memorialbracelets.com, the idea of wearing a bracelet to support a cause was revitalized by Rob Tacy. The site was created to raise funds for September 11^th heroes and victims of terrorism. To read hundreds of stories about why Americans are wearing Memorial Bracelets, POW/MIA Bracelets or custom engraved bracelets to honor the memory of a fallen, missing or imprisoned soldier or lost loved one, please visit the Why Wear blog located at www.whywear.com.