POW/MIA Recognition Day is the 3rd Friday in September
United States National POW/MIA Recognition Day is the third Friday in September. It honors prisoners of war and troops still missing in action (MIA).
According to the DoD, “A national-level ceremony is held on every National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Traditionally held at the Pentagon, it features members from each branch of military service and participation from high-ranking officials.”
In addition to the national-level ceremony, “observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities.
These observances are not the same as the April 9 National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, which is separate from National POW/MIA Recognition Day. That day honors the 1942 surrender of approximately 10,000 United States military personnel and 65,000 Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula.
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A Brief History of POW/MIA Recognition Day
As the Vietnam conflict drew to a close, some 2,500 American service members remained unaccounted for.
This situation was unacceptable to many, and family members of those who died or were missing began to organize on behalf of POW/MIAs, including Sybil Stockdale, wife of Navy pilot and POW James Stockdale.
In 1970, she and other military spouses created the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.
The League’s advocacy, which included promoting what we know today as the POW/MIA flag, raised national awareness and pressured lawmakers in Washington. The campaign worked.
The First POW/MIA Day
In 1979, Congress passed Senate Joint Resolution 51, which became Public Law 96-36, authorizing the President to proclaim a national day of recognition. President Jimmy Carter issued the first one in the form of Proclamation 4677, designating July 18, 1979, as the first National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The event would not have a designated day until 1986, when it was formally assigned to be observed on the third Friday in September. Today, that is the official time to honor the sacrifices made by POWs and MIAs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About POW/MIA Recognition Day
What is National POW/MIA Recognition Day?
It is an American observance to honor service members who were prisoners of war (POW) and those listed as missing in action (MIA). The day serves as a national commitment to account for all service members lost in past conflicts and is observed annually on the third Friday of September.
What is the POW/MIA flag, and what does it represent?
The POW/MIA flag is the official symbol of the cause. It was designed in 1972 and features a silhouette of a man’s bust before a watchtower and barbed wire. The black and white design includes the motto “You Are Not Forgotten” and serves as a reminder of the nation’s missing service members.
What are the official customs?
The President of the United States issues an annual proclamation calling for the nation to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies. Additionally, the 1998 Defense Authorization Act requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown over prominent federal buildings, national cemeteries, and military installations.
How is the day observed at military installations?
Ceremonies on military bases, ships at sea, and posts worldwide often include speeches from former prisoners of war, wreath-laying tributes, and a 21-gun salute. The Pentagon hosts a primary national ceremony attended by senior defense officials and veterans’ groups.
What is the “Missing Man Table”?
The Missing Man Table, or Fallen Comrade Table, is a common tribute displayed at official military functions. It is a small table set for one, symbolizing the service members who are not present.
What is the symbolism of the items on the Missing Man Table?
Each element has a specific meaning. The table is small to show one person’s battle against many. A white tablecloth represents the purity of their motives. A single red rose signifies the faith of their loved ones.
A yellow ribbon on the vase symbolizes the hope for their return. A slice of lemon represents their bitter fate, and salt on the plate stands for the tears of their families. An inverted glass marks their inability to join a toast, and the chair is empty because they are missing.
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(Image courtesy of Defense Visual Information Service/DVIDs)
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
