appeal for international justice
DAR CONSTITUTION HALL . WASHINGTON, D.C. 
MAY 1, 1970, 8 P.M.

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 
April 28, 1970
The inspirational qualities of courage and endurance have been histori- cally associated with American servicemen. Those same qualities have been demonstrated by the families of our men who are missing in action or known to be imprisoned in Southeast Asia. I want to take this opportunity to salute these families and to wholeheartedly reaffirm this Administration's deep con- cern about the fate of these brave men.

Few - if any - of the evils of war are more cruel than the deliberate withholding of information concerning prisoners. As I have in the past, I call upon the leaders of North Vietnam, the Viet Cong, and the Pathet Lao, as fellow human beings, to abide by the basic provisions of the Geneva Conven- tion Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, to which North Vietnam acceded in 1957. This Administration has no more urgent goal than to secure information about and eventual freedom for these Americans who have done so much for their country.

(signature)
Richard Nixon

PROGRAM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES .......................... Senator Bob Dole, Chairman, Senate-House "Appeal for International Justice" Committee

MUSIC ......................................... United States Air Force Ceremonial Band Captain John D. Welsh, Directing

INVOCATION .................................... Dr. Edward L.R. Elson, Chaplain, United States Senate

WELCOME ....................................... Walter Washington, Mayor, Washington, D.C.

APPEALS FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE ............. Mrs. James B. Stockdale, POW Wife, Coronado, California, Honorary Co-Chairman and National Coordinator, National League of Families of American Prisoners in Southeast Asia (Introduction by Congresswoman Catherine May)
						Mrs. Bruce G. Johnson, MIA Wife, Salina, Kansas (Introduction by Senator Robert P. Griffin)
						Mrs. Jerry A. Singleton, POW Wife, Dallas, Texas (Introduction by Congressman Olin E. Teague)

PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS ................... Resolution of the Amerikanish Kriegsgefangenen. Presented to Mrs. James A. Mulligan, POW Wife, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Mrs. Iris Powers, MIA Mother, Orlando, Florida, by Congressman Burt L. Talcott, Former POW, World War II
						Concurrent Resolution of the 91st Congress, April 28, 1970. Presented to Mrs. Charles C. Parish, MIA Wife, Alexandria, Virginia and Mrs. James E. Plowman, MIA Wife, Arlington, Virginia, by Congressman Robert L. F. Sikes

PROGRAM -- Continued
FAITH IN AMERICA .............................. Robert Cummings, Hollywood, California

HOPE FOR FREEDOM ............................. Lieutenant Robert E. Frishman, U.S.N., Former POW of the North Vietnamese (Introduction by Senator John C. Stennis) (handwritten: Jack Miller)
						Petty Officer 2nd Class Douglas B. Hegdahl, U.S.N., Former POW of the North Vietnamese (Introduction by Senator Peter H. Dominick)

UNITED WE STAND .............................. H. Ross Perot, Dallas, Texas, Honorary Co-Chairman (Introduction by Mrs. Douglas Peterson, POW Wife, Fort Walton Beach, Florida)

INTRODUCTION OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS ......... Senator Bob Dole

CHALLENGE TO AMERICA ......................... Captain James A. Lovell, Jr., Apollo 13 Command Pilot (Introduction by Senator Barry M. Goldwater)

MUSIC ........................................ United States Air Force Singing Sergeants Captain Robert B. Kuzminski, Directing

BENEDICTION .................................. Congressman Henry C. Schadeberg, Former Captain, U.S.N. Chaplain Corps

SPONSORING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
CHAIRMAN
Senator Bob Dole

SENATORS
Peter H. Dominick
Barry Goldwater
Mike Mansfield
George Murphy
Edmund S. Muskie
John Stennis

REPRESENTATIVES
W.C. Daniel
Martin B. McKneally
Catherine May
Richard L. Roudebush
Robert L.F. Sikes
Olin E. Teague

SENATE-HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, That it is the sense of Congress
1. That Friday, May 1, 1970, be commemorated as a day for an appeal for international justice for all the American prisoners of war and servicemen missing in action in Southeast Asia;
2. That men of compassion and good will throughout the world be urged to search all peaceful avenues available to insure that these men be treated humanely and fairly in accord with the standards established by the Geneva Convention;
3. That every possible effort be made to secure their early release from captivity;
4. That the President designate Sunday, May 3, 1970, as a national day of prayer for humane treatment and the safe return of these brave Americans; and
5. That copies of this resolution be delivered by the appropriate representatives of the United States Government to the appropriate representatives of every nation of the world.