Councilman Mick Gallagher formally proposed the flag policy at Tuesday's City Council meeting, two weeks after American Legion member Gary Cherms asked city officials to fly the ensign to remind young Redlanders of the United States' military history.

"Most people under the age of 19, 20 years old are not aware of what the flag means," Gallagher asserted Tuesday.

The black-and-white flag depicts the silhouette of an American serviceman standing in the shadow of a guard tower and barbed wire. The acronyms POW (prisoner of war) and MIA (missing in action) are written above the image. Below the picture is the motto "You are not forgotten."

The flag evokes the memory of Americans who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and whose whereabouts were unknown after the end of the war.

Defense Department statistics, current as of July 10, show that 1,780 Americans remain unaccounted for. The remains of 866 Americans have been repatriated to the United States since January 1973.

Cherms appeared at Tuesday's meeting wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with the flag's image and a Purple Heart pin stuck to a black leather vest. A member of American Legion Post 106, Cherms spoke about how he does not want the memories of Vietnam or other wars to be forgotten after the conflicts' veterans are buried.

"In 10 years we're going to lose all our World War II heroes," he said. "In 15 to 20 years, were going to lose all our Korean War vets. I don't want to get into that because I'll be included."

City Manager N. Enrique Martinez said a formal policy could be drafted by the council's Aug. 7 meeting.

The POW/MIA flag is not unknown in Redlands. The city often flies the flag near the Police Annex on Cajon Street.