VFW Post 3278 will be observing Prisoner of War and Missing in Action on Friday, 17th at the Post located at 2300 Crockett Drive.
In remembrance of the Americans who have sacrificed so much for their country by being held as Prisoners of War and those that remain missing in action or unaccounted for, there is a Presidential proclamation that commemorates the observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools, and veterans’ facilities. It is traditionally observed on the third Friday in September each year.
This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.
The flag is to be flown at major military installations, national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House.
A Pentagon ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day was held last year on Friday, Sept.18, 2009. This ceremony featured troops from each of the military services.
According to the National League of POW/MIA Families there are still 1711 Americans total that are missing or unaccounted for to date. Below are the numbers by State, Country, or Territory as of September 14, 2010 of those we honor today.
- Alabama 32
- Alaska 2
- Arizona 17
- Arkansas 18
- California 174
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 27
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 56
- Georgia 30
- Hawaii 7
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 71
- Indiana 55
- Iowa 26
- Kansas 14
- Lousiana 24
- Maine 13
- Maryland 23
- Massachusetts 39
- Michigan 52
- Minnesota 36
- Mississippi 12
- Missouri 38
- Montana 18
- Nebraska 17
- Nevada 7
- New Hampshire 6
- New Jersey 47
- New Mexico 12
- New York 109
- North Carolina 43
- Pennsylvania 95
- Rhode Island 7
- South Carolina 28
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 110
- Utah 14
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 46
- Washington 43
- West Virginia 17
- Wisconsin 29
- Wyoming 5
- Canada 2
- Panama 1
Summary statistics show that there were a total of 81,864 MIA during the last five wars (Current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not reflected):
- World War II: 74,074
- Korean War: 8,025
- Cold War: 125
- Vietnam War: 1,713
- Desert Storm: 0
Freedom has a cost. Please remember those who are prisoners of war or who remain missing in action.