Mother of missing pilot receives flag

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - More than 3 decades.
Exactly 37 years.
Martha Ann Consolvo has missed her son.
"He was declared missing in action. Through years I have hoped I have prayed I've asked God to watch over him. And also to bring him home," Consolvo told WAVY.com

The gold star mother prayed for all service members missing in action at Virginia Beach's National Day of Prayer observance.

Consolvo has prayed for her child, Capt. John W. Consolvo since May 7 1972, the day he was shot down in Vietnam. It was his mom's birthday.
"The pain of war does not stop when bombing and fighting cease. I'll mourn my son the rest of my life... They told me my son was missing and I held on to that hope that some day he'd be found... It's an agonizing ache that never goes away. It's the uncertainty. If we could just know...," Mrs. Consolvo said.

Capt. Consolvo is still missing. But his sacrifice was recognized in a special ceremony.

"With unselfish love and dedicated patriotism, gave all he could," George Lutz said, as he presented Mrs. Consolvo with a personalized "Honor and Remember" flag.
Lutz' son, Army Corp. Tony Lutz was killed in Iraq in 2005. Lutz founded the movement to make the Honor and Remember flag a national symbol for every military member ever lost while serving.

"We want to make sure we bring to remembrance, we give tribute to not just those from iraq and afghanistan, by name and define moms and families that have lost sons and daughters in those eras," Lutz told WAVY.com

Mrs. Consolvo held her flag and smiled, "This flag has my son's name on it and that means so much to me."
She told WAVY.com she treasures the traditional, folded, U.S. flag the military gave her for her son. She keeps one for him, and one for her husband in their display cases. However, the Honor and Remember flag is designed to be flown.

She still waits for her son to come home. " I hope and pray one day they'll find his remains and send them back so he can be buried like he wanted to be in Arlington," she said.

Congressman Randy Forbes, (R) Chesapeake introduced a bill in the House to make the flag a national symbol. In April, Congressman Bobby Scott, (D) Newport News joined the effort and became a co-sponsor of the bill.
 

The mother of a Marine pilot, missing in action for 37 years, was presented with a personalized Honor and Remember Flag Thursday during a National Day of Prayer ceremony at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center.

Martha Ann Consolvo received the flag on the anniversary of her son's disappearnce.

Captain John Consolvo was listed as missing in action after his aircraft was struck during a bombing mission in Vietnam on May 7, 1972.

May 7th is also Mrs. Consolvo's birthday.

The flag presented to Mrs. Consolvo from the Honor and Remember organization commemorates her son's service and sacrifice made in the defense of his country.

Capt. Consolvo attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1966. During his career, Capt. Consolvo was been honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star with Combat "V"; Air Medal (First thru nineteen Strike/Flight Awards; Air Medal (Bronze Star for first award); Air Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award) a Navy Commendation Medal; Purple Heart; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

The Honor and Remember organization, a Chesapeake-based non-profit group, is leading the cause to have the Honor and Remember Flag officially sanctioned as a national flag.

Nearly 100 pepople filled council chambers for the National Day of Prayer ceremony, which featured city and military leaders praying together for the city, the nation, and those serving in uniform.