The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) issued a proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day 2022, promising to “continue the righteous work of bringing home our heroes who remain unaccounted for. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we pledge to seek out answers for the families of service members still missing in action [and] commit to doing all in our power to identify and recover America’s missing sons and daughters. And we pay tribute to former prisoners of war — individuals who exhibited remarkable courage, love of country, and devotion to duty to protect our Nation’s safety and freedoms.” #POW/MIA
Tag: National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day
National POW/MIA Recognition Day is held on the third Friday of September to recognize former prisoners of war and those still missing and unaccounted for from all U.S. conflicts. Ceremonies are held throughout the country and around the world on military installations, ships at sea and other locations. The POW Committee of Michigan, for example, will hold a ceremony at Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens on Sept. 15 featuring a keynote speech from American Legion post commander Capt. Dennis L. Hopkins, followed by a Plaques of Honor recognition. Google “POW/MIA Recognition Day events near me” to attend a recognition your area. #POW/MIA
Declutter to Support MIA Research
The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) seeks “the fullest possible accounting” of troops still missing from all U.S. conflicts. Supporting its efforts is easy: Every time you donate your used clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org, VVA resells them to thrift stores and uses the proceeds to help chapters nationwide engage in research and outreach that can help identify service members’ remains and other clues to the missing. We make supporting the nation’s POW/MIAs as simple as cleaning out your closets, kitchen or garage — but you’re encouraged to attend a memorial event or fly the POW/MIA flag today and this weekend, as well. #NationalPOWMIARecognitionDay
Attend a POW/MIA Day Event in Your Area
Events around the country will recognize the more than 81,000 remaining POW/MIAs for National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Friday, Sept. 16. For example, the future site of the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville, Fla., will host a memorial service alongside a visit from the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall. Orlando’s Veterans Advisory Council will host a POW-MIA recognition ceremony on Sept. 23. And Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 will holds its 36th annual all-night POW/MIA Vigil tomorrow and Saturday at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Mich. Find an event in your area! #NationalPOWMIARecognitionDay
Accounting for MIAs Every Day
Ahead of National POW/MIA Day on Friday, Sept. 16, you can check out some of the most recent MIAs to be identified at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). The most recent MIA Vietnam veterans to be accounted for are U.S. Army Pfc. Thomas F. Green and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sanford I. Finger. Green was 19 and serving as the door gunner on a CH-47B Chinook helicopter that went down over the South China Sea in bad weather in 1971; Finger was a passenger on the transport. The remains of only four of the 10 soldiers on board were recovered during initial search and rescue operations. #NationalPOWMIARecognitionDay