The Scholarship and Convocation Event hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater kicked off at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday September 14, 2021 at Light Recital Hall.
Dr. Kathy Brady nominated Bradley J. Burt who was scheduled to speak but unfortunately missed the event. After speaking with Director of Marketing and Events Audra Lange, Burt agreed to record his speech for his trademark at Outpost 422.
Diversity overcomes the impossibility of facing adversity. Outpost 422 values diversity by endorsing inclusion through class projects.
Diversity is the core value of the Outpost 422 trademark. Thank you Dr. Eileen Hayes, Dr. Kathy Brady and Director Audra Lange for your endorsement.
Diversity can defeat adversity by a simple choice to endorse inclusion.
Unfortunately, the closure of the State Capitol did not allow for a formal ceremony. On September 17, 2021, veterans and families will honor POW MIA servicemembers of Wisconsin by gathering in the rotunda on POW MIA Recognition Day at noon.
So, what makes this day so sacred?
The Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 of Wisconsin will host a rededication ceremony on Friday September 17, 2021 at the Wisconsin State Capitol at noon in the rotunda.
The POW MIA Chair
The families of our POW MIA continuously endure the void of the unknown who understand the pain of loss.
Their grief drives the advocacy amongst veteran organizations like the American Legion, which stand at the ready to receive the call at every meeting placing the POW MIA flag over a designated chair.
The chair represents their seat at the table as a position of utmost importance. Their voice remains silent. Their efforts resemble the ultimate sacrifice.
Why We Remember POW MIA Recognition Day
The United States federal government set aside the third Friday in September in honor of those who have not returned home. Senate Joint Resolution 147 was introduced in 1979, which passed by both Congress and President Jimmy Carter declaring September 18, 1980, as the first POW MIA Recognition Day.
More than 2,500 family members of Vietnam POW MIA servicemembers came forward advocating that America do its part by exhausting all avenues to bring their loved ones home. The annual event honors families by lowering the POW MIA flag a half-staff at noon until sunset.
We remember the sacrifice the families make each day and commit to repatriating the remains of their loved ones to bring closure.
Bringing closure to families is the reward for remembering them.
Meet Their Advocates
POW MIA Recognition Day, according to U.S. Army Airborne and Special Forces Museum, shares the ongoing responsibility of honoring the lost.
Their advocacy and contribution from the article, “Three Things to Know About POW MIA Day” speaks truths about the contributions, sacrifices and efforts made by those frozen in time who have not returned home.
Department of Defense and the Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency provide toolkits and posters for organizations to hang in their halls to keep the torch lit for their advocacy.
Publications and press releases consider their last known whereabouts, but what happens when we stop telling their story?
The POW MIA will not be found and their families will not receive closure. Through public affairs open records requests and feature writing, the fire and the advocacy unite under one unified nation committed to remembering them.
We are their advocates. Please do not forget them each year in September as we launch a new era of American freedom and democracy during the pandemic.
We can work through social media and Google searches to locate documents and pass the word along. Please support our mission to honor them through our blog feature stories.
On August 4, 2021, the email went out to place an ad with the Royal Purple to recognize POW MIA Recognition Day.
The email was answered with cheerful enthusiasm and a can-do attitude to accept the task to create an ad, which connects with viewership, who centrally focus on locating crash site documents, who also contribute to the Outpost 422 Capstone investigation.
The finished product turned out a professional and highly detailed product. The finished ad not only featured the launch of the investigation to locate Wisconsin MIA Lieutenant Jerome Aloys Volk, but historically converged advertising with soft news feature writing because of new methods of reporting from the pandemic.
Royal Purple Advertising Manager Logan Komprood worked tirelessly over the course of the month of August to not only meet the publishing deadline but handle all communications through WebEx interview and emails to bring the project to life.
The project could not launch without the help of Komprood’s team, which consisted of two other people—Royal Purple Advisor Dr. Keith Zukas and Lead Graphic Designer Aaron Holliday. Together, all parties created a memorable ad gaining awareness for Wisconsin POW MIA through their contribution and support.
Advertising Manager for the Royal Purple Logan Komprood, shares his experience designing, leading, learning and developing the vision for the Fall 2021 semester ad campaign recognizing the contribution the POW MIA provide for American freedom.
70 years Not Forgotten—The Logan Komprood Interview
Q: Can you share your demographic details like name, major and favorite course, city or town you graduated high school from, some background from that town, etc.?
A: My name is Logan Komprood, I am a Communications major and I would like to work in the advertising and marketing field. I am from Janesville, WI which is known for its many parks and chain restaurants.
Q: What did you like most about creating and working on the Lieutenant Volk ad?
I loved listening to the stories about Lieutenant Volk and learning the real purpose behind the ad for him.
Q: What did you learn anything or discover as a team member?
A: It was my first ad that I got to work with, so it was a great learning experience to begin my semester.
Q: Was there a special moment you had or a specific memory from working on this project you would like to share with blog readers?
A: Working one on one with Bradley Burt was a great moment because it allowed me to fully understand what the ad should look like and include.
Q: Is there anything I missed or something you would like to open minds with viewers about regarding veterans or family members who served?
A: I believe that it is important that we gain awareness for those that have served especially those who have lost their lives. They did so much for all of us and making others aware of this gives them the recognition that they deserve.
Together, We Can Bring Him Home—the Outpost 422 Campaign Strategy
The campaign launches on September 17, 2021 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The 18-month campaign seeks to raise $50,000 to converge all University of Wisconsin campuses to support the efforts of the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project.
The blogs will reach a global audience indirectly affecting North Korean foreign dignitaries through viral strategic planning.
Once the $50,000 goal is reached, the next phase will seek $250,000 annually to request permission from North Korea to send Investigative Journalism majors on-site to report the progress of locating Lieutenant Volk.
The ad created by Komprood’s team launches a diversity and inclusivity campaign through convergent cooperation on social media, which recognize the need to continuously stimulate and organize the University of Wisconsin Missing-in-action Recovery and Identification Project on all campuses.
A committee of corporations who adopt the mission will assemble a corporate citizenship to fund the inclusivity campaign recognizing the efforts of the POW MIA as a qualifier for 501 c 4 tax deductibility.
Your generous contributions will help retain attorneys, accountants, establish an ad hoc committee who meets with the Department of Defense and the UW MIA Recovery Identification Project, and will continuously fund the mission for the duration of 18-months. Thank you, Logan Komprood, for your time and energy. Your effort will not be forgotten. Together, we can bring him home.
