POW/MIA Recognition Day

Established by Congress in 1979, the third Friday each September is POW/MIA Recognition Day. This day of observance honors prisoners of war and members of the military missing in action.

Incredibly, a total of 83,417 GIs are still missing in action:

• 73,681 from World War II
• 7,947 from the Korean War
• 126 from Cold War actions
• 1,657 from the Vietnam War
• 6 from the war with Iraq and related conflicts.

The National POW/MIA Recognition Day is not a federal public holiday, but it is one of 6 days each year when the POW/MIA flag may be flown at military bases and federal buildings. The other 5 days this flag can be flown at those locations are: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.

Sources: Marine Times: "On POW/MIA day, a son remembers"; Defense Prisoner of war, Missing Personnel Office