As a young military wife, Phyllis Eason Galanti (1941-2014) became a leading figure in the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, founded in 1970. She wore this dress for her 2:35 am February 15, 1973 reunion with her husband Paul Galanti (LCDR, United States Navy) at the Norfolk Naval Air Station after a seven and a half year separation during which he was a prisoner of war (POW). Paul Galanti was in captivity in North Vietnam for six years and eight months. Their reunion was captured on the February 26, 1973 cover on Newsweek magazine. The orchid worn on Mrs. Galanti's dress was sent to her by President Richard M. Nixon. He did this for each of the wives of returning prisoners of war. Interestingly, a letter to the editor in the next issue of Newsweek magazine chided her for wearing white gloves. Mrs. Galanti purchased the dress on January 23, 1973 at Herb and Millie Heltzer's Ardley dress shop after hearing that President Nixon had requested air time for 10:00 pm that night. From news of the previous several days it was obvious that the President would announce a peace agreement ending the war in Vietnam. The dress was worn by actress K Stron in Theatre IV's 1991 production, "Four Part Harmony," a musical about prisoners of war and their families.
A U.S. Navy fighter pilot, Paul Galanti was shot down on 17 June 1966 near Vinh, North Vietnam. He spent almost seven years in various POW camps in North Vietnam collectively called the “Hanoi Hilton.” Phyllis became active in the Richmond community and with the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia advocating for Paul’s release and increasing public awareness about POWs and MIAs in the Vietnam War. Paul was released and returned to the U.S. on February 15, 1973.