Arizona Revised Statute 1-301 designates the April 9 as Prisoners of War Remembrance day. This is not a legal holiday.

The law further declares that the governor make a proclamation to “…commemorate the sacrifices of men and women who suffered captivity in foreign lands while in the service of our country.”

It further requires that the governor urge teachers and students of the schools of this State observe this day with appropriate exercises and encourage citizens to contemplate the plight of Americans who have been held captive of an enemy nation.

The Northern Arizona Gazette urges that the Governor and Arizona Legislature use this opportunity to demand that the Prisoners Of War from the Vietnam conflict be be allowed access to the records and documents concerning their time as prisoners in the conflict. The current administration—applauded by Senator John McCain—has denied prisoners of war from Vietnam access even to their own records. These are the only records held secret by the U.S. Government. The regular service records of Vietnam veterans—or any other veteran—and POW records from other wars are not held secret.

One must wonder why John McCain demand all records remain secret.