National POW/MIA Recognition Day - 9.19

In honor of American Patriots who were prisoners of war, and those who are still missing in action.

In honor of American Patriots who were prisoners of war, and those who are still missing in action.
In 1979, the first resolutions for a national POW/MIA recognition was passed by both the legislative and executive branches, after the families of the more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs called for full accountability.
A National POW/MIA Recognition Day was codified into law by the 1998 Defense Authorization Act, to be observed the third Friday in September, and first recognized as such by President Ronald Reagan.  
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities. All of these National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies share the common purpose of honoring those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 83,000 service members are still missing from conflicts ranging from World War ll to the present day.

30,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died: 72,404 are still missing 
7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died: 7,555 are are still missing 
725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died; 1,584 are still missing 
126 are missing from the Cold War 
37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991; 6 are still missing
We honor the service and sacrifice of all our Patriots in uniform, present and past, and, being central to our Armed Forces mission of service, offer our gratitude and daily prayers for them and their families.