“What is often mentioned in the military is to leave no man behind,” said 2025 American Legion Auxiliary Public Spirit Award recipient Ann Mills-Griffiths, chair emeritus and acting CEO of the National League of POW/MIA Families. “And those now serving likely don’t know that this meaningful goal came from the efforts that began during the Vietnam War.”

The National League of POW/MIA Families was incorporated on May 28, 1970.

“The Public Spirit Award is more than just a recognition; it is a tribute to people and organizations that go above and beyond in their efforts to honor and uplift those who have served our country,” said 2024-2025 American Legion Auxiliary National President Trish Ward from the convention stage Aug. 25 when Mills-Griffiths received the award. 

The League was formed with a threefold mission: 

1. to obtain the release of all prisoners of war
2. the fullest possible accounting for the missing 
3. repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War

“It is without a doubt that if we did not have The League, America's POW/MIAs would long ago have been forgotten,” Ward added.

Mills-Griffiths has led the National League of POW/MIA Families since Aug. 1, 1978, first as executive director, and since Aug. 1, 2011, as chair of the board and CEO, continuing responsibilities for the nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization in Washington, D.C. 
 
Having stepped aside from administering daily league operations, Mills-Griffiths focuses primarily on U.S. policy, operations, and sustaining the league’s financial ability to achieve accounting objectives. Since 1970, the league has fought for the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for those listed as MIA, and the recovery and identification of remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War.
 
Cmdr. James B. Mills, U.S. Navy, Mills-Griffiths’ brother, was listed as MIA on Sept. 21, 1966, when the Navy F4B on which he served as radar intercept officer disappeared on a night, low-flying bombing mission over North Vietnam. He was serving his second tour, assigned to Fighter Squadron 21, USS Coral Sea, when the F4B in which he and the pilot, Navy Capt. James Bauder, were last seen and disappeared off radar. 
 
“The reality hits home when the war ends and your loved one doesn’t come back,” Mills-Griffiths said. “Then you truly gain an understanding of what forever really means and what sacrifice really is.” 
 
Despite uncertainty surrounding this incident, and due to nearly miraculous site discovery and sincere dedication by DPAA’s underwater archeologists, the remains of Bauder were recovered and identified in August 2017, and those of Mills in August 2018. He was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 24, 2019.
 
Mills-Griffiths is a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 364 in Virginia, and has spoken at many American Legion National Conventions in addition to the ALA’s 104^th National Convention.

“My sincere thanks for honoring the league and me and all you’ve done,” she said. “We can and will accomplish the reasonable goals that were established so long ago.” 

To see a list of previous ALA Public Spirit Award recipients, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org/Public-Spirit-Award. For more information on the National League of POW/MIA Families, visit www.pow-miafamilies.org.