3rd Friday of September – POW/MIA Recognition Day

est. 1979

Today is POW/MIA Recognition Day, a day to remember Americans that are prisoners of war or who remain missing in action.

As of April 2009, there are 1,741 American personnel listed by the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The number of personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841 and according to the National League of Families website, about 90 percent of the 1,741 people still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control.

On July 18, 1979, the United States Congress passed a resolution authorizing National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It was then observed on the same date in 1980, then observed on various different dates from 1981 through 1985. From 1986 onwards the date was moved to the third Friday of September.

Many Americans across the United States pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW), those who were missing in action (MIA), and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which symbolizes the country’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned or remain missing from serving in combat.

Veteran rallies take place in many states on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. American and POW/MIA flags are flown and prayers are made for POWs and those missing in action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day posters are also displayed on college campuses and public buildings to promote this day. Remembrance ceremonies and other events to observe this day are also held in places such as war memorials, museums, and the Pentagon.