In honor of American Patriots who were prisoners of war, and those who are still missing in action.
Join us in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day. In 1979, the first resolutions for a national POW/MIA recognition was passed by both the legislative and executive branches, after the families of the more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs called for full accountability.
A National POW/MIA Recognition Day was codified into law by the 1998 Defense Authorization Act, to be observed the third Friday in September, and first recognized as such by President Ronald Reagan.
Notably, there are three Vietnam POWs who have significantly influenced our lives at The Patriot Post.
The first would be Mark Alexander’s mentor, Col. Roger Ingvalson. The second and third would be our longtime friends, Col. Leo Thorsness (USAF), and Lt. Col. Bill Gauntt.
These men were American Patriots of the first order, who honored their sacred oaths “to support and defend” our nation until their last breath. We will be forever grateful to them and all those who have endured being taken Prisoner of War and those still Missing in Action.
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities. All of these National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies share the common purpose of honoring those who were held captive and returned, as well as those who remain missing.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 83,000 service members are still missing from conflicts ranging from World War ll to the present day.
30,201 World War II service members were imprisoned; 14,072 them died: 72,404 are still missing
7,140 Korean War service members were imprisoned; 2,701 of them died: 7,555 are are still missing
725 Vietnam War service members were imprisoned; 64 of them died; 1,584 are still missing
126 are missing from the Cold War
37 service members were imprisoned during conflicts since 1991; 6 are still missing
Among the ways many organizations honor POWs and MIAs is with a Missing Man Table.
The tables setting is reserved to honor our missing comrades in arms. The table is round - to show our everlasting concern. The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve. The single red rose represents the blood that was shed and lives lost. It also represents the loved ones and friends who keep the faith. The yellow ribbon symbolizes our continued uncertainty, hope for their return and determination to account for the missing. A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate, captured or missing in a foreign land, and the bitterness of our loss. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families. The flickering candle reflects our hope for their return. The glass is inverted represents their inability to share a toast. The bound text is a book of faith to represent the strength gained through devotion to sustain those lost from our country. The chair is empty - they are missing.
We honor the service and sacrifice of all our Patriots in uniform, present and past, and, being central to our Armed Forces mission of service, offer our gratitude and daily prayers for them and their families.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
Join us in prayer for our nation’s Military Patriots standing in harm’s way, for our First Responders, and for their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic’s Founding Principle of Liberty, in order to ignite the fires of freedom in the hearts and minds of our countrymen. Thank you for supporting our nation’s premier online journal of Liberty.
The Patriot Post and our Patriot Foundation Trust are proud sponsors of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Folds of Honor, Honoring the Sacrifice, Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, the Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.
