THE ISSUE:

Since World War I more than 200,000 Americans have been listed as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.  Less than half of them were returned at the end of hostilities, leaving more than 125,000 American servicemen Missing In Action since the beginning of World War I.

During the 14-years of American involvement in Southeast Asia, and specifically the Vietnam War, more than 2,500 Americans were captured or listed as missing in action.

Prisoners of War / Missing In Action

Statistics from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office

THE FLAG

Only one flag besides the Stars and Stripes that represents the United States has ever flown over the White House in Washington, DC.   Only one flag is ever displayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.  That flag is not one that represents an individual state, branch of service, or other select group.   It is the POW/MIA (Prisoners of War/Missing In Action) Flag that calls to mind the plight of those Americans who have sacrificed their own freedom to preserve liberty for all of us.  It's presence serves to remind us that, while we enjoy the privileges of freedom, somewhere there are soldiers who have not been accounted for and may, in fact, be held against their will by the enemies of Freedom.

Displaying the POW/MIA Flag

Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action come from EVERY STATE, thus the POW/MIA flag has precedence over state flags.   The following guidelines should be followed in flying the POW/MIA flag:

• If flying the flag from ONE FLAG POLE, the POW/MIA flag is flown directly below the National Colors.

• If flying National, POW/MIA and State flags from TWO poles, the POW/MIA flag should be flown from the same pole as the National Colors, and beneath the American Flag, with the state flag flying from the pole to the left.

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

Congress has set aside the THIRD FRIDAY of September in each year as National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  It is a time to remember those who never came home.  Congress has further recognized the POW/MIA flag of the National League of Families as the official flag to represent our missing soldiers.  This flag is to be flown over:

• The Capitol and the White House in Washington, DC,
• The Korean War and Vietnam Veterans War Memorials,
• Every National cemetery,
• Any building containing the official offices of the Secretary of State
• The offices of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
• The offices of the Director of the Selective Service System,
• Every major military installation,
• Every VA Medical Center, and
• Every Post Office.

The POW/MIA flag is displayed daily in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building, and should be flown at all VA Medical facilities on any day the National colors are displayed.  In addition to POW/MIA Recognition Day, the flag should be displayed at all the above locations on: