09/10/2026
September 2026 Newsletter
The Story Behind the POW/MIA Flag
Did you know the National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established through the determined advocacy of military families during the Vietnam War? Those same determined efforts also led to the creation of the iconic POW/MIA flag, a lasting symbol of our nation's commitment to those who were prisoners of war and those who still remain missing in action.
In 1970, Mary Hellen Hoff, a member of the National League of Families and the wife of a Naval aviator missing in action while stationed at NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, helped inspire the creation of a symbol that would become recognized around the world. Determined to keep the fate of America's missing service members in the public eye, the League sought a flag that would serve as a constant reminder that those listed as prisoners of war or missing in action would never be forgotten.
Graphic artist Newt Heisley of the Annin Flag Company answered that call by designing the now-iconic black-and-white POW/MIA flag. After receiving official approval from the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, the flag was first unveiled and flown in 1972.
Heisley based the silhouette on his 24-year-old son, Jeffrey, whose gaunt appearance after recovering from a serious illness following Marine Corps training reflected the physical hardship endured by many prisoners of war. The design features the silhouette of a captive set before a guard tower and strands of barbed wire, beneath are the powerful words, "YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN." More than five decades later, the flag remains one of America's most enduring symbols of remembrance and the nation's unwavering commitment to account for every missing service member.
The National League of Families intentionally left the design uncopyrighted so it could be freely reproduced and displayed across America.
The flag first flew over the White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1988. In 1990, Congress designated it as the nation's official symbol of concern for America's POWs and MIAs. The National POW/MIA Flag Act of 2019 further strengthened its significance by requiring the flag to be flown every day at designated federal locations, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, major military installations, national cemeteries, and post offices.
Displaying the POW/MIA Flag
Proper display of the POW/MIA flag is straightforward:
• On a single flagpole, it flies directly beneath the United States flag.
• On separate poles, it is displayed to the left of the U.S. flag from the viewer's perspective.
• It should always be the same size as or smaller than the American flag—never larger.
The American Legion's Empty Chair Ceremony
The American Legion has long been one of the nation's strongest advocates for POW/MIA accountability.
On August 27, 1985, during the 67th National Convention in New Orleans, delegates adopted Resolution 288, establishing the POW/MIA Empty Chair Program (often referred to as the "Table for One") at official American Legion meetings.
The Empty Chair serves three important purposes:
• A Visible Reminder – It honors the thousands of Americans still missing and unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and more recent conflicts.
• A Call to Government Action – It reminds our elected leaders that the search for the missing must remain a national priority.
• A Commitment to Accountability – It reaffirms The American Legion's dedication to bringing home every possible captive, recovering the remains of the fallen, and achieving the fullest possible accounting of those still missing.
Whenever you see the Empty Chair at a Legion meeting, remember it represents someone who has not yet come home.
Motorcycles for the Missing
Did you know that motorcycle rides supporting POW/MIA awareness are among the largest patriotic demonstrations in America?
The thunder of thousands of motorcycles has become a powerful reminder that America has not forgotten its missing heroes.
One of the earliest and most recognized events was Rolling Thunder, founded in 1987 by Vietnam veterans. Each Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of thousands of riders traveled to Washington, D.C., demanding continued accountability for America's missing service members.
Another nationally recognized event is Run For The Wall, an annual cross-country mission from California to Washington, D.C. Riders travel to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a structured mission that includes a symbolic Missing Man Formation—five motorcycles riding with an intentionally vacant position representing those who never returned.
Florida's Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride
Here in the great Free State of Florida, we proudly host our own tribute.
Each September, the American Legion Riders Department of Florida, conduct the Seven Bridges POW/MIA Remembrance Ride in Jacksonville. This fully escorted ride crosses Jacksonville's seven major bridges spanning the St. Johns River before concluding at the National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum at the former NAS Cecil Field for a POW/MIA Ceremony.
The ride brings together Legionnaires, Riders, veterans, families, and supporters from across Florida in a visible demonstration that America's POWs and MIAs remain in our hearts and our mission.
Join Us for National POW/MIA Recognition Day 2026
The National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum invites everyone to participate in this year's observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
September 18–19, 2026
National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum
Jacksonville, FL
This two-day event honors America's Prisoners of War and those who remain Missing in Action through remembrance, education, and fellowship. The Department of Florida encourages every Legion Family member who can attend to stand with us in reaffirming our promise: You Are Not Forgotten.
For event details and the complete schedule, visit: https://powmiamemorial.org/upcoming-events/
Stay Connected
• Florida POW/MIA page: facebook.com/falpowmia
• Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA): dpaa.mil
• National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum: powmiamemorial.org
DPAA Update (FY 2026 as of 1 August 2026)
• World War II: 154 accounted for
• Korean War: 36 accounted for
• Cold War: 0
• Vietnam War: 1
During July, the DPAA accounted for numerous service members from World War II. These brave Americans are now being returned to their families with the honor and dignity they deserve.
July 1, 2026
• Franklin H. McKinney – WW II
July 16, 2026
• Henry L. Younge – WW II
• Jacob Cornsilk – WW II
• Harold T. Thompson – WW II
• Harold T. Thompson – WW II
• Given C. Grooms – WW II
• Nick Gavalas -WW II
• Gerald W. Herrington
• William A. Jones – WW II
July 21, 2026
• Leonard J. McNeill – WW II *McNeill will be buried Nov. 11, 2026, in his hometown of Orlando, FL
July 29,2026
• Joseph U. Conner – WW II
• Bernard F. Sweet – WW II
July 30,2026
• Kenneth L. Carpenter – WW II
POW-MIA
