09/18/2026
Today is the only official national day of observance dedicated entirely to honoring Americans who were prisoners of war or remain missing and unaccounted for - from all conflicts, in all theaters, and from every branch of service.
Recognition Day is not a passive observance. It is a call to action — an annual opportunity for every American community to renew the national commitment to account for those who did not come home. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), more than 80,000 American service members remain missing and unaccounted for from past conflicts.
Learn more at POW-MIAFamilies.org