KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Sept. 19, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) reaffirms its sacred commitment to those who never returned home. For the VFW, the third Friday in September serves as a powerful reminder of the more than 142,000 former American prisoners of war and less than 81,000 service members who remain missing and unaccounted for, and it reinforces our unwavering pledge to their families and to the nation: We will not rest until we have the fullest possible accounting for every single service member.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) reports that just under 81,000 Americans are still unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts. Behind every one of those numbers is a life, a story and a family that has endured decades of uncertainty and questions that couldn't be answered. Our nation owes them the ensuring promise that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
As a proud and committed supporter of the DPAA, the VFW will continue to support their tireless efforts to conduct recovery missions, forensic identifications and historical research across the globe. Our shared goal to bring a measure of peace and closure to the families is a mission that transcends time and will be passed down through every generation of veterans.
Today, and every day, the VFW solemnly pledges to never forget America's POWs and MIAs.