The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Mr. President:

Although the National League of Families has not previously taken a formal position concerning the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, we have long opposed interment of a Vietnam era unknown until ever possible effort has been made to resolve the POW/MIA issue.

Your personal and public commitment to our men has given us hope that this nation will take every effort to secure the release of those who may still be held captive, achieve the fullest possible accounting for those still missing and return of their remains as soon as possible.

Last year, during the Memorial Day ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery, two plaques wre dedicated. The center plaque reads, "The crypt for the unknown serviceman from the Vietnam War lies empty as the nation continues to identify those American dead who have been recovered from Southeast Asia." Those words are still valid.

The efforts and dedication of your administration ensure that more Americans will be recovered and identified. We believe the crypt for the unknown serviceman from the Vietnam War should remain empty until the fullest possible accounting has been achieved. The greatest tribute to those who served this country is the effort to ensure that there are no unknowns.

It is our hope that you, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the United States, will intervene to stop this ceremony until our uncertainty has been resolved and this nation can honor all Vietnam veterans, knowing we have done our very best.

AMH/la

cc: Board of Directors

Executive Director