MIA Recognition Day

MIA Recognition Day History

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices and resilience of prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are missing in action (MIA). This important observance is both a recognition of their service and a promise that the nation will do everything within its power to account for soldiers who have yet to return home.

The day was instituted by an Act of Congress in 1998. The observance had existed unofficially for many years prior, with the Vietnam War being a notable catalyst that amplified awareness. It is a day rooted in remembrance, steadfast determination, and unyielding commitment to those who wore the nation's uniform and didn't make it back. Today, it serves as a potent reminder for many families, citizens, and veterans that the price of freedom is unending vigilance and unyielding loyalty to those who risk and sacrifice their lives for the nation's safety and freedom.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is punctuated by ceremonies and observances across the country, involving various communities, military installations, and high-level officials. It underscores the ongoing efforts to account for the missing, demonstrating that the nation's commitment to its servicemembers is unwavering. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is held annually on the third Friday of September.

Top 10 Facts for MIA Recognition Day in 2026

• The 2026 observance features a specially commissioned poster, unveiled by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to emphasize the nation's ongoing, sacred commitment to providing the fullest possible accounting for missing service members.
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day serves as the only official national observance in the United States dedicated entirely to honoring American prisoners of war (POWs) and those who remain missing and unaccounted for from all conflicts and every branch of service.
• The observance is held annually on the third Friday of September, a date chosen to honor the sacrifices of military personnel and their families without being tied to any specific war.
• The iconic black-and-white POW/MIA flag, which displays a silhouette of a prisoner before a guard tower and barbed wire, is one of only two flags ever authorized to fly over the White House.
• Federal law mandates that the POW/MIA flag be displayed at prominent locations—including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and all national cemeteries—on this day of observance.
• The phrase 'You Are Not Forgotten,' which appears on the POW/MIA flag, serves as the movement's core message and reflects the promise to never stop searching for those who have not returned home.
• Ceremonies often feature the 'Missing Man Table,' a symbolic display where every item represents the emotions, sacrifices, and the hope of family members for the return of their loved ones.
• President Jimmy Carter established the observance in 1979 through a presidential proclamation, a tradition that every subsequent president has continued to honor.
• The DPAA leads the intensive, global effort to recover and identify personnel from past conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.
• While historical records indicate tens of thousands of Americans remain missing from previous conflicts, the work of forensic identification and historical research continues to bring closure to families through discovery and repatriation.

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