POW/MIA

 

We will not rest until we achieve the fullest possible accounting of all missing American military service members from all wars. 

 

     


The numbers of unaccounted-for personnel are staggering, currently 83,000, and the length of time since they have been lost is extensive, going back to World War II. Many will never be recovered because the loss occurred over deep water, were due to catastrophic explosions, or eyewitnesses to the incidents have long since passed, but every new identification helps bring closure to one more American family, and is one step closer to achieving the fullest possible accounting of our missing. It is also a re-commitment to those serving in uniform today that America will bring you home. 

We encourage the U.S. government to continue its POW/MIA accounting efforts, and we are directly engaged with other nations and their veterans’ groups to urge their cooperation and assistance to obtain information about missing Americans. VFW national officers make annual trips to Pacific, Asian and European countries where they always meet with senior host-country officials to stress the importance of conducting investigation and recovery operations, as well as gaining access to documents and archival research facilities.

The VFW is the only veterans’ organization to return to Southeast Asia every year since 1991, to Russia since 2004, and now into China for nearly a decade. The VFW opens doors on a vet-to-vet level that makes us the envy of U.S. government politicians and bureaucrats who must follow a strict protocol.

The 
VFW's Action Corps weekly e-newsletter lists returned MIAs once their names are posted on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's website

 

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Posts should conduct an appropriate ceremony. Information on conducting a ceremony can be found in the current VFW Manual of Procedure.

POW/MIA FLAG -- OFFICIAL DISPLAY DAYS

Public Law 105-85 (November 16, 1997) indicates the days that federal agencies, military installations and U.S. post offices are required to display the POW/MIA flag. The days are:

 

  • ·       Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2019 (third Saturday in May)
  • ·       Memorial Day, May 27, 2019 (last Monday in May)
  • ·       Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4
  • ·       National POW/MIA Day, September 21, 2018 (third Friday in September)
  • ·       Veterans Day, November 11

The new law (P.L. 116-67) requires that POW/MIA flags be displayed below the U.S. flag at federal sites around the country. These locations include:

  • White House.
  • Capitol building.
  • World War II Memorial.
  • Korean War Veterans Memorial.
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  • National cemeteries.
  • State Secretary offices.
  • Defense Secretary offices.
  • VA Secretary offices.
  • Selective Service System Director’s office.
  • Military installations.
  • VA medical centers.
  • Post offices.