POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

POW/MIA Recognition Day: Honoring the Unaccounted and Upholding Our Promise 

We have many days set aside to honor service members. Veterans Day celebrates those who returned home after service, and Memorial Day remembers those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. But less attention is given to those with unknown fates: our prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIA). The story remains unfinished for their families, and the uncertainty is a daily burden. 

That is why POW/MIA Recognition Day, observed on the third Friday in September, carries such weight. On this day, our nation pauses to acknowledge the men and women who endured captivity and those whose whereabouts remain unknown.  

It is a moment to reflect on their courage and sacrifice and renew our promise that they will not fade from memory. The black-and-white POW/MIA flag, flown alongside the American flag, is more than a symbol. It is a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to seek answers and bring every possible service member home. 

The day matters because it bridges remembrance with action. While we honor resilience and sacrifice, we also highlight the ongoing efforts of the Department of Defense and organizations dedicated to recovering and identifying the missing.  

More than 80,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from past conflicts, and the work of recovery is painstaking, but it continues. POW/MIA Recognition Day is about keeping faith with those service members and their families.  

As a nation, we owe them not only gratitude but persistence. Their stories demand to be told, their sacrifices deserve recognition, and their return, wherever possible, must remain our goal.

HERO SPOTLIGHT

Remembering Captain Lance P. Sijan: A POW/MIA Legacy of Courage and Sacrifice

Lance Peter Sijan was born on April 13, 1942, in Milwaukee, WI. From a young age, he showed a determination that set him apart. Friends and family remembered him as fiercely disciplined in academics and athletics. He played football, excelled in basketball, and pursed art with the same dedication he showed on the field. That drive to push himself through challenges shaped the way he would later endure unimaginable hardship.   

Sijan entered the US Air Force Academy in 1961. Life at the Academy was demanding, but he thrived on the structure and challenge. His persistence, physical toughness, and sharp intellect prepared him for the rigors of becoming a pilot. After graduation, he went on to flight training and qualified on the F-4 Phantom II, one of the premier fighter jets of the Vietnam era. 

On November 9, 1967, Sijan was flying a mission over Laos when his aircraft was struck and he was forced to eject. Severely injured with a fractured leg and a mangled hand, he survived alone in the jungle.  After surviving 45 grueling days alone in the Laotian jungle, Sijan was discovered by North Vietnamese soldiers. Already severely weakened, he was captured and dragged to a holding camp. Even in this condition, he attempted to escape, crawling into the jungle despite being unable to walk. He was quickly recaptured, but the attempt showed his captors and fellow prisoners the depth of his determination. 

During interrogation, Sijan was tortured and beaten, yet he refused to divulge sensitive information. He maintained his military bearing, identifying himself only by name, rank, and service number. Other American POWs recalled his defiance. Despite extreme physical pain and malnourishment, he never complained about his suffering. Instead, he encouraged those around him and demonstrated that resistance was possible, even under the harshest conditions. 

Eventually transferred to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison, Sijan’s condition declined. Malaria, pneumonia, and his untreated wounds pushed his body past the point of recovery. Yet even as his strength faded, fellow POWs remembered how he continued to resist propaganda efforts and maintained his dignity. He unfortunately died in captivity on January 22, 1968, but left an impression on those who survived; they described him as a beacon of courage in the darkest circumstances. 

For years, his fate was uncertain, and he was listed as MIA until his remains were repatriated and identified in 1974. His story speaks directly to the meaning of POW/MIA Recognition Day: the ache of unanswered questions for families and the nation’s responsibility to account for every missing service member. 

His comrades’ testimonies after the war were central to his legacy. They stressed that his spirit had not been broken and that his example gave others the strength to endure captivity. 

For his extraordinary courage and unbreakable spirit, Captain Lance Sijan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976, the nation’s highest tribute to valor. The U.S. Air Force Academy honored him by naming a cadet dormitory in his memory, ensuring that every generation that passes through its halls learns his story. His life and sacrifice are held up as a guiding example of resilience, duty, and honor.   

Captain Sijan’s legacy endures not only at the Academy but across the military community and beyond, where his name continues to embody determination, selflessness, and the sacred promise never to surrender. 

THE HISTORY AND MEANING OF POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

The story of POW/MIA Recognition Day begins in the years of the Vietnam War, when thousands of American families lived with uncertainty, waiting for news of loved ones who had been captured or never returned.  

Out of their grief and determination, the National League of POW/MIA Families was formed in 1970. Their tireless advocacy pressed the nation to account for the missing and ensured their sacrifice would not fade into silence. 

In 1979, Congress authorized a National Day of Observance for America’s prisoners of war and those still missing in action. President Jimmy Carter issued the first proclamation that same year.  

At first, the day was held in July, but by 1986, it had been moved to the third Friday in September, where it remains. Between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the date underscores its distinct purpose: to honor those whose fates remain unresolved. 

The black-and-white POW/MIA flag, created in 1972, became the unifying emblem of this movement. In 1998, Congress required it to be flown on POW/MIA Recognition Day over federal buildings, including the White House, the Capitol, and the Department of Defense. Aside from the Stars and Stripes, it is the only flag that must be flown regularly at these sites. Its presence is a solemn reminder of national commitment. 

This day matters because it calls us to reflect on a different kind of sacrifice. Veterans Day celebrates those who returned home.

Memorial Day remembers those who fell in service. POW/MIA Recognition Day shines a light on those who have not yet come home, and on the families who live with the ache of unanswered questions. It affirms that our nation will never give up the work of recovery and identification, carried forward today by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 

Above all, this day is not only about remembrance but about a promise. It is the promise that no service member will be forgotten, that every effort will be made to bring them home, and that their stories will never remain unfinished.

WEBSITES AND RESOURCES

Across the nation, communities gather on POW/MIA Recognition Day to honor those who never came home. These ceremonies offer a chance to reflect, remember, and stand alongside the families still waiting for answers. 

We have included a list of sites and resources below so that if you or your loved ones wish to take part, you can find a way to connect with others who share in this day of remembrance. 

• National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum – Events Page: Their “Upcoming Events” page shows ceremonies and memorial events hosted at the museum. A perfect way for those in the Jacksonville, FL area to celebrate.  

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts: Local VFW halls often hold flag-raising ceremonies, memorial services, or community gatherings on POW/MIA Recognition Day. Contact your nearest post for details. 

• American Legion – POW/MIA Recognition Day: You can check with your local Legion post to see what they are doing to observe this day. A great way of seeing community-level ceremonies. 

• DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) Family Events & Updates: DPAA hosts family briefings and update meetings. Their site lets people see when and where these happen. Their live stream page also typically hosts an annual recognition stream. 

• VA Medical Centers: Many VA hospitals and clinics hold remembrance ceremonies, often open to veterans, families, and the community. Reach out to your nearest facility for schedules. 

• State Veterans Agencies: State departments of veterans affairs frequently coordinate or publicize POW/MIA observances. Their websites and social media pages are good places to look for events near you. 

• Local Governments: Many towns and cities mark the day with proclamations, ceremonies at municipal buildings, or flag observances. Check your city or county website for announcements.