COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s her life’s work. For more than 50 years, Liz Flick ensured that the sacrifices made by Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs) are not forgotten.

What You Need To Know

  • Liz Flick has worked on behalf of POWS and MIAs through the National League of Families (Ohio chapter) for more than 50 years

  • Bracelets to honor missing soldiers can be found at: pow-miafamilies.org

  • There are an estimated 1,577 U.S. military members unaccounted for

Some of Flick’s earliest memories are of soldiers serving in England near her family’s farm during World War II.

“I was taught to respect their service,” Flick said. 

Moved to make a difference, in January 1973, Flick joined the Ohio chapter of the National League of Families.

“We are the ones who distribute the bracelets," she said. "The ones we have now (made by an Ohio artist) have the name, the rank, branch of service, date of loss and country of loss."

The first bracelet Flick put on was to honor Captain Kevin McManus. He came home alive in the early 1970s, and the two met at a dinner in Washington, D.C.

“When he came home, I knew that not everybody was yet home, and so I purchased another bracelet…” Flick said.

The second bracelet, in honor of Captain Herbert Crosby, stayed on Liz Flick’s wrist for the next 35 years until his remains were identified and returned.

“People use the word ‘closure,’ and I’m not sure a lot of the families get closure…unfortunately we are running out of time,” Flick said.

According to the National League of Families, there are 1,577 soldiers, airmen, Marines and Navy unaccounted for today.

“Our government here in the States works on ‘We the People,’ we are the government," Flick said. "So when our government sends young men and now young women into combat, that’s we the people doing that. And if we’re doing it, then it’s up to us to bring them home."

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