Since 1998, the third Friday of September each year has been set aside as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. It’s a time to reflect on the hardships of those captured during war. And it’s a time to consider the lives of those soldiers who went missing and were never heard from again.
Since World War 1, about 136,000 American soldiers have spent time as prisoners of war. Many made it home, somehow surviving what were often brutal prison conditions. But many thousands died, too.
To this day, the fate of more than 83,000 U.S. troops from various wars remains a mystery. Most are presumed dead. But they’re officially labeled as missing in action.
The issue of not knowing the fate of these troops was brought to a head in the mid-1970s. The Vietnam War had been raging on for years. And the American public began to push hard for more information than it was getting.
Let’s look at some of the groups and resources of today that sprang up as a result of public outcry in the 1970s.
The National League of POW/MIA Families. This was one of the first groups to make noise on the issue. Formed in 1970, it was made up of wives, children, parents and siblings of POW/MIA soldiers. This is the group that spawned the black and white POW/MIA flag that has become such a well-known symbol across the nation. It’s the only flag other than the American flag to ever fly over the White House.
The National Alliance of Families. This group formed in 1990, splintering off from the National League of POW/MIA Families. But its mission is the same: working toward the recovery of live POWs, the remains of those killed and accurate accounts of those who have gone missing. The group also offers resources to POW/MIA family members.
World War II Families for the Return of the Missing and Korea-Cold War Families of the Missing. In mission, these two groups are also similar to the National League of POW/MIA Families. But both narrow the focus a little more by concentrating their efforts on the soldiers of specific wars.
Rolling Thunder Inc. This group, formed in 1995, pushes for legislative change and works to educate the public on issues related to POWs and MIAs. This veterans group, with 90 chapters, also sends search and rescue groups on missions throughout the world in hopes of recovering POWs and information on missing soldiers.
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. This is the official U.S. agency responsible for recovering POWs and information on MIAs. It’s somewhat new, being formed in 2015 as a single entity now handling tasks previously done by several U.S. government agencies.
Veteran Energy honors all of our brave Americans. But there’s a special place in our hearts for POWs, missing soldiers and their families who long for some sort of closure. Our thoughts are with all of you this National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
