Why does the POW/MIA flag fly in every Kentucky rest stop while Vietnam is never mentioned in the state’s social studies standards revision?

Here’s a puzzle for you.

First, some facts:

• Kentucky Revised Statute 176.415 says the Department of Highways shall display the flag of the National League of Families of American Prisoners of War and Missing in Southeast Asia – the black and white banner commonly known as the POW/MIA flag – at each rest area along the Commonwealth's interstate and turnpike system.

• The POW/MIA flag dates from the Vietnam War era.

• As the Kentucky statute says, the POW/MIA flag symbolizes America's missing service members and our unwavering determination to account for them.

So, it is clear that the Kentucky Legislature supports this memorial effort and does not want this part of the Vietnam story to be forgotten.

So, why, if Kentucky flies this Vietnam War era flag at every rest stop in the Commonwealth, do the state’s new social studies standards not only omit all mention of the Vietnam War but the standards do not even mention the country of Vietnam or the term “Southeast Asia,” either?

Do you think Kentucky’s social studies standards should show more respect?

The very deficient revision of Kentucky’s social studies standards and its enabling regulation will probably be considered by the legislature’s Interim Joint Education Committee on June 5, most likely at 1 pm Eastern time. If you think this regulation is deficient, then you need to let your legislator know. Otherwise Kentucky’s students might never hear about the Vietnam War or anything related to it.