Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, Congress passed a resolution in 1979 authorizing National Prisoners of War (POW)/ Missing in Action (MIA) Recognition Day to be observed throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, since 1986, the third Friday of September has been the day of national observance; and

WHEREAS, a total of 72,404 Americans is still unaccounted for from World War II; 7,555 from the Korean War; 1,579 from the Vietnam War; 126 from the Cold War; 1 from Operation El Dorado Canyon (Libya, 1986); and, 5 from the Gulf War(s); and

WHEREAS, there are 1,342 Virginians that remain missing or unaccounted for; and

WHEREAS, the families and friends of unaccounted-for veterans and other Americans still await recovery and identification of their remains or, if determined unrecoverable, certainty regarding their fates; and

WHEREAS, on this day, the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag is flown across the country as a symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of those who answered the call to serve in our armed forces; and

WHEREAS, on this day, we pay tribute to our nation’s prisoners of war and those who are missing in action, and we stand behind our country’s steadfast commitment to account for them; and

WHEREAS, we remember the incredible sacrifice of prisoners of war and those missing in action to fight for our freedoms and uphold peace and security around the world; and

WHEREAS, on September 16, 2023, Virginians come together to express gratitude for these individuals who have faithfully served our country;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 16, 2023, as PRISONER OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION RECOGNITION DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations