POW/MIA (U.S.)

Prisoner Of War - Missing In Action

Last modified: 2002-09-28 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | pow | mia | prisoner of war |
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by Rick Wyatt, 28 February 1998

• Meaning and use of the flag
• Postal Bulletin

See also:

• Military Flags
• United States of America

It represents support for and remembrance of American servicemen/women either Prisoners Of War or Missing In Action. It started for the Vietnam conflict, I think, but can also serve as remembrance of other areas where there are still US military personnel unaccounted for. (ie Korea).
Nathan Augustine, 16 May 1996

The flag became popular after Viet Nam War when negotiating to get all POW's home, and all MIA's accounted for.
Ronnie Kay, 19 May 1996

While looking over the POW-MIA information on FOTW, I was reminded of an notation I had come across in the U.S. Postal Bulletin (21967, dated 3/12/1998, http://www.usps.gov ). As a result of the Defense Authorization Act, P.L. 105-85, Section 1082, POW-MIA flags are now required to be flown over U.S. Postal facilities on Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day (July 4), national POW-MIA Recognition Day (third Friday in September), and Veterans Day (November 11). If the postal facility is closed because of a non-business day, the flag is to be displayed on the last business day preceding the designated date. As the first of these days is upon us, and having noted some traffic on the matter, the relevance of this posting:

The Administrative Support Manual was amended to read:

Sec. 471.1
*Except as governed by host facilities, [the only flags] to be displayed at postal facilities are the flag of the United States of America, the Postal Service Flag, the POW-MIA flag, and, when authorized by the senior vice president of Corporate Relations, flags directly related to the programs, missions and activities of the United States Postal Service. Flags of states, commonwealths, or local governments must not be displayed.*

Sec. 475.21
*The POW-MIA flag that may be flown at postal facilities is the National League of Families POW-MIA flag that is recognized officially and designated by Public Law 101-355, section 2.*